Name: Akshay George Class: Physics HL

1) Describe in some depth a model of the atom that features a small nucleus
surrounded by electrons.
Answer: At first J.J Thomson believed that the atom was filled with massive positively
charged substance with electrons arranged in the substance like raisins in a muffin.
However, the nuclear model of Ernest Rutherford suggested that all the positive charge
was found in the nucleus, which essentially consisted of all the atomic mass. Electrons
were outside of the nucleus and did not contribute a lot to the mass of the atom. Today,
we know that electrons orbit the nucleus, carrying a negative charge. The nucleus
consists of a positively charged protons and neutral neutrons. The electrons are kept in
orbit around the nucleus due to the presence of an electrostatic force.

2) Outline the evidence that supports a nuclear model of the atom. Include in your
discussion the Rutherford experiment.
Answer: An evidence that supports the nuclear model of the atom is the scattering of
alpha particles after they have been aimed at atoms. In Rutherford’s experiment, alpha
particles (positively charged) were fired at a thin gold foil. It was observed that some of
these alpha particles went straight through the sheet, while others were deflected at angles
sometimes greater than 90 degrees. From this, it was inferred that the only reason the
alpha particles were deflected was because they came near positively charged centres of
atoms. Since likes repel, the alpha particles were deflected from the centres of the atoms.
This ultimately showed the existence of a positive mass in the atom. The negative charge
of the electrons was too small to affect the direction of the alpha particles.

3) Outline one limitation of the simple model of the nuclear atom

Answer: In general, accelerating charges are known to lose energy to their environment
or other aspects. So hypothetically speaking, the high-speed orbiting electrons should
lose/radiate all their energy and spiral into the nucleus due to the attraction between the
positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons. The simple model of the
nuclear atom simply does not explain why the atom remains stable.
However, Bohr postulated that electrons in a stable orbit do not radiate energy and are
kept in orbit due to electrostatic forces.

4) Outline in depth of the evidence of atomic energy levels. Include the emission and
absorption spectra in this discussion.
Answer: Energy levels in atoms and ions are the key to the production of light.
Whenever an electron jumps from a high energy state to a low energy state, a photon
(energy) of light is released. The frequency of the light depends on the difference
between the energy levels. A set of wavelengths of light emitted by an atom is known as
the emission spectra. The emission of different wavelengths of lights suggests that certain
electrons of an atom have jumped from higher energy levels to lower energy levels. In
other words, energy has been emitted. These properties are shown with bright lights that
stand alone. Similarly, in an absorption spectrum, a white light with dark lines in it shows
that some wavelengths are missing. This is because the electrons have traveled from a
low energy level to a high energy level which means that energy or certain wavelengths
have been absorbed.