Answer :
The scattering of α-particles by a thin foil of gold, as observed in the famous Rutherford scattering experiment, can be explained by the Rutherford model of the atom.
In this model, the atom is mostly empty space, with a dense, positively charged nucleus at its center. When α-particles approach the gold foil, most of them pass through the atom's electron cloud with minimal deflection due to the vast empty space.
However, a small fraction of α-particles experience close encounters with the positively charged nucleus, resulting in significant deflections, including those at angles greater than 90°. This phenomenon is a key piece of evidence supporting the nuclear model of the atom, as proposed by Ernest Rutherford.
