Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Rutherford model
Introduction & Top Questions References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images & Videos
Diagram of the Rutherford atomic model for a neon atom, showing electrons orbiting a central nucleus. An inset magnifies the nucleus, depicting clustered protons and neutrons. Diagram illustrating the Rutherford gold-foil experiment, showing a beam of alpha particles directed at a thin gold foil with detectors arranged in an arc to observe scattering patterns. The inset explains how most alpha particles pass through with little deflection while some are deflected at small or large angles, consistent with Rutherford's atomic model where a dense nucleus causes scattering.
Niels Bohr's contribution to atomic theory explained
Quizzes
atom. Orange and green illustration of protons and neutrons creating the nucleus of an atom.
Another Physics Quiz
Related Questions

Rutherford model: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Contributors

  • Tala Vaughan

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Invalidated site: UC Davis - The Rutherford Scattering Experiment. Mar 26, 2026
Add new Web site: Academia - Rehabilitation of Rutherford's Atom Model (PDF). Jun 18, 2025
Add new Web site: CORE - “Rutherford’s experiment” on alpha particles scattering: the experiment that never was (PDF). Mar 28, 2025
Questions and answers added. Feb 05, 2025
Add new Web site: University of California, Berkeley - A science prototype: Rutherford and the atom. Dec 12, 2024
Add new Web site: UC Davis - The Rutherford Scattering Experiment. Jan 03, 2024
Add new Web site: Chemistry LibreTexts - Rutherford's Experiment- The Nuclear Model of the Atom. May 17, 2023
Added a cross-reference to atomic model. Apr 06, 2023
Add new Web site: Chemistry LibreTexts - Rutherford's Experiment- The Nuclear Model of the Atom. Aug 18, 2022
Article revised and updated. May 26, 2020
Changed article title from "Rutherford atomic model" to "Rutherford model." Mar 28, 2019
Corrected display issue. Aug 10, 2017
Add new Web site: Science Kids - Fun Science and Technology for Kids! - Ernest Rutherford Facts. Nov 02, 2015
Add new Web site: Science History Institute - Ernest Rutherford. Nov 02, 2015
Added material about Ernest Marsden, Hans Geiger, alpha particles, Rutherford's reaction to the gold foil experiment, and the Thomson atomic model. Feb 09, 2015
In description of Ernest Rutherford, changed "British" to "New Zealand-born." Mar 21, 2014
Deleted "see insert." Mar 08, 2013
Add new Web site: Indiana University - Rutherford's Planetary Model of Atom. Jan 07, 2011
Add new Web site: ThinkQuest - Rutherford's Model. Jan 07, 2011
Article revised. May 04, 1999
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
View Changes:
Article History
Revised:
By: