Long answer·Standard multi-step (3/5)·No calculator
Difficulty guide
The label describes the problem, not your ability.
1/5 - Foundational
Warm-up setup; checks one basic idea.
2/5 - Routine exam skill
Normal syllabus skill; usually one main rule or interpretation.
3/5 - Standard multi-step
Exam-style problem with multiple steps or a common trap.
4/5 - Hard exam skill
High-end exam problem; combines methods carefully.
5/5 - Challenge
Stretch problem beyond normal exam pressure.
Question
An alpha-particle scattering experiment gives the following qualitative observation; some are deflected by small angles; about one in many thousands is scattered backward.
Total: 5 marks
(a) What does the first observation imply? (1 mark)
(b) What does backward scattering imply about charge and mass distribution? (2 marks)
(c) Why could electrons not be responsible for the backward scattering? (2 marks)
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