Outcomes

Student should be able to describe and compare the Plum Pudding model and the Rutherford model of the atom.
Students should recall that like charges repel.
Using the observations from the Geiger and Marsden’s experiment they should be able to make conclusions about the structure of the atom and how they support the Rutherford model.

Specification References

7.15 Describe the results of Geiger and Marsden’s experiments with gold foil and alpha particles
7.16 Describe Rutherford’s nuclear model of the atom and how it accounts for the results of Geiger and Marsden’s experiment and understand the factors (charge and speed) which affect the deflection of alpha particles by a nucleus.

Use the Rutherford model to simulate the experiment. Start with ‘dilute positive sphere’ and then add the nucleus after. This should be done undercover (in a box) Students should only observe the result.
Teacher must state that the alpha particles are positively charged
Emphasise the Observations as a class and then split them into groups and using the sheet they could try to draw a conclusion on the structure of the atom