Lesson 3.8.1.1

3.8.1.1 Rutherford scattering Quiz: AQA Physics, Unit 8

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

In partnership with Revision Ninja

Lesson 3.8.1.1, Rutherford scattering: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Physics (7408), Unit 8: Nuclear physics (A-level only), written with Revision Ninja.

Host it live on the board and students join with a game code on their own devices, or revise alone with Free Play. The answers are revealed in the game.

Host this setFree Play

The 20 questions

  1. What main structure did the Rutherford alpha-scattering experiment discover in atoms?

    • Negative central core
    • Uniform positive sphere
    • Continuous electron cloud
    • Small positive nucleus

  2. Which force causes large-angle deflections of alpha particles in Rutherford scattering?

    • Gravitational pull
    • Electrostatic repulsion
    • Strong nuclear force
    • Magnetic deflection

  3. What deflection was predicted for alpha particles by Thomson's plum-pudding model?

    • Complete absorption
    • Large backscattering
    • Only small deflections
    • No deflection

  4. Which change decreases the distance of closest approach for an alpha particle approaching a nucleus?

    • Higher nuclear charge
    • Larger particle mass
    • Lower kinetic energy
    • Higher kinetic energy

  5. An alpha particle of kinetic energy 5.0 MeV approaches a gold nucleus (Z = 79) head-on. Estimate its closest approach, using k = 9.0 x 10^9 N m^2 C^-2 and 1 MeV = 1.6 x 10^-13 J.

    • 2.3 x 10^-13 m
    • 4.6 x 10^-15 m
    • 4.6 x 10^-14 m
    • 9.1 x 10^-14 m

  6. Which property of a nucleus is estimated using the distance of closest approach of alpha particles?

    • Nuclear binding energy
    • Maximum nuclear radius
    • Exact atomic mass
    • Total electron count

  7. Why does targeting gold nuclei (Z = 79) produce larger alpha particle deflections than aluminium (Z = 13)?

    • Smaller nuclear mass
    • Higher neutron density
    • Greater nuclear charge
    • Greater atomic radius

  8. An alpha particle has its initial kinetic energy doubled while approaching the same nucleus head-on. How does its closest approach change?

    • It is unchanged
    • It quadruples
    • It doubles
    • It halves

  9. What is the approximate ratio of the atomic radius to the nuclear radius?

    • about 10 times
    • about 10^10 times
    • about 100 times smaller
    • about 10^4 to 10^5

  10. At closest approach in head-on alpha scattering, into what form is all initial kinetic energy converted?

    • Thermal kinetic energy
    • Nuclear binding energy
    • Gravitational potential energy
    • Electric potential energy

  11. Which nuclear property determines the distance of closest approach for alpha particles of fixed energy?

    • Proton number
    • Mass number
    • Neutron number
    • Binding energy

  12. Which observation in Rutherford scattering showed that the atomic nucleus is extremely small?

    • Undeflected particles
    • Complete absorption
    • Large-angle deflections
    • Small-angle deflections

  13. An alpha particle of 5.0 MeV kinetic energy is equal to how many joules? Use 1 MeV = 1.6 x 10^-13 J.

    • 8.0 x 10^-6 J
    • 1.6 x 10^-19 J
    • 3.1 x 10^-13 J
    • 8.0 x 10^-13 J

  14. Why must the metal foil used in the Rutherford scattering experiment be very thin?

    • Stop alpha particles
    • Cause electron diffraction
    • Prevent multiple scattering
    • Maximise absorption

  15. What order of magnitude is the radius of a gold nucleus?

    • about 10^-18 m
    • about 10^-6 m
    • about 10^-14 m
    • about 10^-10 m

  16. In a head-on alpha scattering event with an initial kinetic energy of 2.0 MeV on a nucleus of Z = 50, what is the closest approach? Use k = 9.0 x 10^9 N m^2 C^-2.

    • 3.6 x 10^-13 m
    • 7.2 x 10^-15 m
    • 1.8 x 10^-14 m
    • 7.2 x 10^-14 m

  17. What energy conversion is assumed when calculating an alpha particle's distance of closest approach?

    • Nuclear to kinetic
    • Kinetic to thermal
    • Kinetic to potential
    • Potential to kinetic

  18. A student halves the kinetic energy of an alpha particle approaching a nucleus head-on. By what factor does the closest approach change?

    • It halves
    • It quadruples
    • It doubles
    • It is unchanged

  19. Which fundamental force governs the diffraction of high-energy electrons by a nucleus?

    • Electromagnetic force
    • Gravitational force
    • Weak nuclear force
    • Strong nuclear force

  20. Why does distance of closest approach give only an upper limit for nuclear radius?

    • Electron shielding
    • Coulomb repulsion
    • Energy absorption
    • Strong force attraction

All AQA Physics quizzes