Question

In Geiger-Marsden scattering experiment, the trajectory traced by an $\alpha$ -particle depends on

• A. number of collision
• B. number of scattered $\alpha$- particles
• C. impact parameter
• D. none of these

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

impact parameter

Answer 2

Trajectory of $\alpha$-particle depends on impact parameter which is the perpendicular distance of the initial velocity vector of the $\alpha$ particle from the centre of the nucleus. For small impact parameter a particle close to the nucleus and suffers larger scattering.