EN-20 Rutherford Scattering

This apparatus, designed by Professor C.W. Leming and D.H. Garrison at Henderson State University, allows students to repeat the famous alpha particle scattering experiment which was fundamental to the discovery of the structure of the atom. Suggested by Ernest Rutherford in 1908, the experiment demonstrates that the charge of the atomic nucleus is concentrated at the center of the atom. The apparatus consists of a cylindrical chamber that can be evacuated, with a collimated source to produce fine beam alpha particles, and a piece of gold foil to scatter the particles. The scattered particles strike a piece of a particle sensitive film at the other end of the chamber. The film records the impacts of the particles, which appear as clear spots on a red background after development. A small vacuum pump is needed to evacuate the chamber and a low power microscope of 20-50x power to read the films.