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HSC Physics
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Module 1: Kinematics1.1 Motion in a Straight Line
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1.2 Motion on a Plane
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Module 2: Dynamics2.1 Forces
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2.2 Forces, Acceleration and Energy
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2.3 Momentum, Energy and Simple Systems
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Module 3: Waves and Thermodynamics3.1 Wave Properties
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3.2 Wave Behaviour
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3.3 Sound Waves
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3.4 Ray Model of Light
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3.5 Thermodynamics
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Module 4: Electricity and Magnetism4.1 Electrostatics
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4.2 Electric Circuits
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4.3 Magnetism
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Module 5: Advanced Mechanics5.1 Projectile Motion
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5.2 Circular Motion
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5.3 Motion in Gravitational Fields2 Topics
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Module 6: Electromagnetism6.1 Charged Particles, Conductors and Electric and Magnetic Fields
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6.2 The Motor Effect1 Topic
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6.3 Electromagnetic Induction
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6.4 Applications of the Motor Effect1 Topic
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Module 7: The Nature of Light7.1 Electromagnetic Spectrum3 Topics
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7.2 Light: Wave Model
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7.3 Light: Quantum Model2 Topics
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7.4 Light and Special Relativity
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Module 8: From the Universe to the Atom8.1 Origins of the Elements5 Topics
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8.2 Structure of the Atom3 Topics
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8.3 Quantum Mechanical Nature of the Atom2 Topics
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8.4 Properties of the Nucleus2 Topics
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8.5 Deep Inside the Atom4 Topics
Lesson 26, Topic 2
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Experimental Evidence Supporting the Nuclear Model
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Rutherford
In his famous gold foil experiment, Rutherford fired alpha particles (helium nuclei consisting of two protons and two neutrons) at a thin sheet of gold foil. If Thomson’s plum pudding model was correct, the alpha particles would have travelled straight through the foil with only occasional, minor deflections.
- Most of the alpha particles passed through undeflected.
- Some were very significantly deflected, with a few bouncing straight back towards the source.
- These deflections were caused by a highly-concentrated positive charge at the centre of the atom (the nucleus) which electrically repelled the alpha particles.
Later, Rutherford observed hydrogen as a product of a reaction between nitrogen and alpha particles. From this, he concluded that one of them must have hydrogen within it, and that hydrogen nuclei (i.e. protons) were present inside nuclei, and hence inside all atoms.