Demonstrations

Rutherford Scattering

Code Number :	7D50.35
Disclaimer:	Reprinted by permission of Dick Berg, University of Maryland, for use on this website. The demonstrations contained and referenced herein are listed for the purposes of cataloging and describing physics demonstrations which should be conducted only under the direction of a trained instructional support professional or physicist. These demonstrations are not presented for the purpose of being conducted by persons unconnected to this Facility and/or persons not consulting with or being supervised by the recognized instructional support professional or physicist and his/her staff. The University is responsible only for those demonstrations carried out using its own equipment using established safety and scheduling policies, and bears no responsibility for those choosing to use this source material for their own purposes. All demonstrations described and contained herein are public domain, and can also be found in reference materials in libraries, bookstores, and electronic sources. Further information regarding legal liability in use of demonstrations and labs will be found on the web site Injuries in School/College Laboratories in USA. The University of Iowa Disclaimers: University of Iowa Disclaimer All Rights Reserved..
Condition :	Excellent
Principle :	Nuclear Scattering
Area of Study :	Modern Physics
Equipment :	Rutherford Scattering Apparatus, Different Diameter Targets, Touch Sensitive Tape, Large Protractor.
Procedure :	Place the scattering unit on a table and tape a new length of touch tape around the outer diameter. Select and install the desired diameter target. Place the cardboard screen over the target if it is desired to hide the target size from the class. Find the center of the target by adjusting the screw bolt that governs the position of the gun. Each Plexiglas shim is 1/2 cm wide. By adding or subtracting these from the area between the adjusting bolt and the gun mounting shaft the gun may be easily moved in precise steps when shooting at the target. Measuring the scattering angle of the shot pellet will give a reasonably accurate target diameter.

Websites

"A Nice Animation of the Rutherford Experiement", http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/electromag/java

References

Steven R. Thompson and Peter Seligmann. "Squirt-Gun Scattering." TPT, Vol. 29, # 1, p. 62, (January 1991).

Ford and Hood, "Clouds and Nuggets" and "Response," TPT, Vol. 26, # 1, p. 9, (January 1988).

Vincent Santarelli, Nocodemo Rinaldis, "Hard-Sphere Scattering with a Light Beam", TPT, Vol. 17, # 9, Dec. 1979, p. 609.

"Sting and Sticky Tape Experiments", TPT, Vol. 16, # 3, Mar. 1978, p. 149.

Arthur Eisenkraft, "On Seeing Atoms and Other Things", TPT, Vol. 13, # 7, Oct. 1975, p. 426.

Robert J. Jasinski, Jeffrey C. Weitz, "Sargent -Welch Scattering Apparatus, An Evaluation", TPT, Vol. 12, # 5, May 1974, p. 305.

Jerry D. Wilson, "Rutherford Scattering Box With 10⁷ GeV Accelerator", TPT, Vol. 12, # 7, Oct. 1974, p. 437.

James A. Blackburn, H. J. T. Smith, "Determining a Force Law From a Scattering Experiment", AJP, Vol. 72, # 2, Feb. 2004, p. 237.

Robert I. Price, "Use of the "Welch" Scattering Apparatus", AJP, Vol. 55, # 10, Oct. 1987, p. 931.

A. N. Mantri, "On the Small-Angle End of the Rutherford Scattering Formula", AJP, Vol. 45, # 11, Nov. 1977, p. 1122.

J. C. Ramage, J. McLeown, K. W. D. Ledingham, "A Convincing Demonstration of the Rutherford", AJP, Vol. 43, # 1, Jan. 1975, p. 53.

Olan E. Kruse, "A Look at the Small-Angle End of the Rutherford Scattering Formula", AJP, Vol. 43, # 4, Apr. 1975, p. 328.

E. R. Wicher, "Elementary Rutherford Scattering Simulator", AJP, 33, (8), Aug. 1965, p. 635.

Richard H. Lindsay, David H. Ehlers, and Raymond R. McLeod, "Rutherford Scattering Apparatus for Laboratory and Lecture Demonstration", AJP, 33, (12), Dec. 1965, p. 1055.

D. J. Prowse, "Note on the "Welch" Scattering Apparatus", AJP, Vol. 29, # 12, Dec. 1961, p. 1

S-255: "Marbles on Base of Book Rack," DICK and RAE Demo Notebook.

Robert P. Crease, "Dawning Beauty: Rutherford's Discovery of the Atomic Nucleus", The Prism & The Pendulum, Ch. 9, p. 168 - 183.

Mail Questions and Comments to: Dale Stille