27.1.2 Observe and explain To help determine atomic structure, Philip Lenard sho

Question

27.1.2 Observe and explain To help determine atomic structure, Philip Lenard shot cathode rays (electrons) at a thin sheet of aluminum. He observed that electrons moved through the foil without any deflection. At this time physicists already knew that atoms are electrically neutral and contain several electrons. Electrons were known to have a very small mass, much smaller than the mass of the atom. An atomic model developed by J. J. Thomson included positive charge equally distributed within the atom with electrons embedded in it-like plums in a positively-charged plum pudding. Explain how this model accounted for Lenard's experiments.

Explanation / Answer

Thomson plum pudding model specify that the positive charges are equally distributed within in the atom and Lenard experiment gave an supporting that electrons are undeflected and pass through the thin sheet of aluminum.

The electrons are negatively charged and the nucleus having positive charges distributed according to thomson (plums pudding) would attract each other when cathode ray (beam of electrons) are released. There is no deflection in the beam because opposite charges attract which supports Lenard experiment.

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