Read the following statements regarding the Geiger-Marsden ( -particle scattering) experiment: (A) The fraction of -particles scattered at angles greater than 90^ is very small because the nucleus is massive compared to the -particle. (B) If the kinetic energy of the incident -particles is doubled, the distance of closest approach is halved. (C) The scattering of -particles by the gold nucleus is treated as an elasti

Step-by-step solution

Statement (A) is incorrect. The fraction of -particles scattered at large angles is very small because the nucleus occupies an extremely small volume (small cross-sectional area) compared to the total volume of the atom, not simply because it is massive. Statement (B) is correct. The distance of closest approach for a head-on collision is r₀ = 1 4 ₀ 2Ze^2 K . Since r₀ 1 K , doubling the kinetic energy K will exactly halve the distance of closest approach. Statement (C) is correct. In Rutherford scattering, the coll