How did Rutherford discover the atomic nucleus 100 years ago?

In 1911, a physicist named Ernest Rutherford conducted an experiment that changed our understanding of matter forever.
This video will take you through Rutherford's famous alpha scattering experiment, which led to the discovery of the atomic nucleus.
We'll explain how Rutherford and his team made their groundbreaking discovery and what it means for us today. You'll learn why atoms, the building blocks of everything around us, are mostly empty space. We'll also discuss why this discovery was so shocking and why it's not often discussed in textbooks.
Whether you're studying for a science test, a teacher looking for classroom resources, or just curious about the world, this video is for you. So, if you've ever wondered about the nature of matter, or why atoms don't collapse into themselves, join us on this journey into the heart of the atom.
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[@Mahesh_Shenoy]

I was very anxious about doing the role play. A part of me is screaming inside saying, "Noooooo..". Do you want me to do more or not? 😰

[@BloobleBonker]

It was very useful and carried the message very clearly.

[@GodSahil]

yes yes yes!

[@neerujbarwar3413]

Sir you are great teacher ^⁠_⁠^ ....

[@Everything_is_ur_choice]

I think that's what kept us engaged throughout ....it was really good sir

[@dityaharpatipraja4442]

yes!!!!1

[@huytranvan2754]

This man is Khan Academy with more fun skits and excitements that makes learning physics so enjoyable. Hat off to you, my man!

[@GoldFoilDecendent]

Great Stuff. Would love to see you follow this line of thought and study further towards the splitting of the uranium atom.

[@Just_An_Idea_For_Consideration]

THESE ARE THE GREATEST LECTURES ON PHYSICS I HAVE FOUND!!! PLEASE CONTINUE CREATING THEM.

[@davidfiler7439]

No disagreement from me.

[@Flapjackbatter]

My grandmother told me that one day when she was at high-school the teacher came in with a serious expression on his face an announced to the class that "they have split the nucleus of the atom". Serious stuff.

[@Mahesh_Shenoy]

Woah! Can't imagine the feeling of hearing this live!

[@rosssharma542]

I remember learning about Rutherford's experiment in high school, but I never really understood what his hypothesis was, or how he reached his conclusion. Now I do. Great video.

[@animaniac9343]

Beautiful video, I really think such videos should be made more often.... I too teach physics in a small institution in my locality... And always have been amazed how beautifully you introduce a topic in your video.... Such an enthusiastic way you have to introduce something mind blowing

[@Mahesh_Shenoy]

Thanks, buddy :)

[@sarbajitdutta5193]

Hey! Sarbajit here. This is by far the best video on this topic. Finally, we have someone who focuses more on the science, and the essence of it; not just teaching for some competitive exams which most people do :3

[@abhijitchaudhuri2079]

Fantastic nice and easy way of Explaining a lot of physics. I will love to listen more.

[@mdshanawazalam1263]

Your chanel is so underrated

[@Mahesh_Shenoy]

Thanks, buddy!

[@user-fv3uf9kz2t]

Yep truly a gifted teacher....long live the teacher. Simply the best.....

[@60pluscrazy]

A must watch video for all students studying the atomic structure 🎉🎉🎉

[@UltrosFF6]

I like the idea of the professor having to wing it in front of the class just as a new discovery comes 😂. The humor of the reality that those who are teaching us also are constantly learning. 😂

[@douglasstrother6584]

Problem 2-19 in "Electromagnetic Fields and Waves" by Lorrain & Corson (2nd Edition) discusses the stability and resonant frequencies of Thomson's Plumb Pudding Model. An example titled "Thomson's Problem"in "Modern Electrodynamics" by Zangwill discusses the mechanical stability of the Thomson model, Problem 3.24 discusses a similar geometry in the context of macro-ions common in biological environments.

[@codingbloke]

Loved the video. You bring joy and enthusiasm to physics.

[@Mahesh_Shenoy]

Thanks :)

[@PadmavathiVedavalli]

Such a beautiful video...... The way you explain the concepts of physics is just impeccable

[@lancediduck6278]

Great stuff!! Some topic suggestions: 1. Electron orbitals -- how they are kind of like static shells, but also move at the same time without radiating energy 2. Noethers Theorem 3. Spinors

[@exipolar]

More of this, please! You do a great job of communicating the mixture of wonder and irony that went into a lot of physics. You should do one about how Schrodinger stumbled into quantum mechanics by making a wild guess in frustration

[@Mahesh_Shenoy]

Oh yes! Max Planck too!

[@exipolar]

@@Mahesh_Shenoy that’s right! Got it mixed up in my head 🤣

[@VanDerHaegenTheStampede]

I've been following your Physics videos for a while now, and I really appreciate the way you simplify complex concepts for us viewers. Your content is both educational and entertaining! I wanted to suggest a fascinating topic that I believe would make for a great video series - the concept of mass in particle physics. There's a common misconception that the Higgs boson is solely responsible for giving mass to all particles, and it would be fantastic if you could delve into the nuances of mass in your next videos. As I've learned, the 'main' mass of physical objects, especially within atomic nuclei, arises from the strong force interactions between quarks and gluons, which contribute to the mass defect of these particles. However, the mass of fundamental particles, such as quarks and leptons, is a complex interplay of factors, including their intrinsic mass (due to their interaction with the Higgs field) and the kinetic and potential energy associated with their interactions (like the energy stored in the strong force for quarks). Clarifying this distinction would be incredibly enlightening for many of your viewers and help dispel the common misconception surrounding the Higgs boson. Keep up the great work, and I'm looking forward to your future videos!

[@Mahesh_Shenoy]

Hey Braulio, thanks for the suggestion. This sounds like an incredibly fascinating topic. I think Veritasium has already made a video on that. But, I can immediately see it as a Higgs boson vs E = mc^2 (or Higgs vs Einstein) or something like that. That would be a good spin. :D

[@idrisarab5110]

​@@Mahesh_Shenoy❤

[@nickdegroot222]

More videos about the atom, please! It’s amazing how so many branches of sciences intersect on this topic. Great storytelling!

[@s.patrickmarino7289]

You are a fantastic educator. Thanks!

[@swenic]

Congrats on 40k.. You are doing really well, gonna reach 10x this in the blink of an eye. I wouldn't dare suggest "improvements" but I wouldn't mind you explaining all the nobel prizes either. My math is so-so but at lest mention it, like you did coulombs law, so that I can find the formulae and try it at home. Thanks, keep up the great spirits! (and please don't become dependent on distracting ads, such a shame)

[@RaviYadav-zk9jt]

I love this guy. ❤

[@ianwilliams7740]

I personally love your teaching style and you have an absolute gift for imparting knowledge. Thank you friend.

[@Parapresdokian]

This dude got me through highschool single-handedly when he was at Khan Academy. Now as I'm into college, he haunts me again. I'll be giving you a huge shout out from the biggest possible audiences that'll ever encounter in my life, if happened.

[@hinesification]

Great stuff. I have a Masters in Physics and Ph.D. inAstronomy, and I still learn something from every video!

[@baravi2005]

Mahesh, you’re killing it with these videos man…I’m loving them…please continue making more!!!

[@meherbanusyeda6463]

sir, you helped me a lot and your videos are the driving force behind whatever understanding i have about science. thankyou for reviving the spirit of questioning and critical thinking in me! you are the only physics teacher that has taught me the spirit of science. i admire your work and am eager for more!! thank you very much for all these great intellectual videos!!♥♥♥

[@bonetiredtoo]

Rutherford was one of the greatest experimental physicists of all time. Up there with Faraday to be honest. I have to say that the work was done by Geiger and Marsden but Rutherford was absolutely key....

[@Mahesh_Shenoy]

Apparently, it was Geiger who discovered the large angle ‘abnormality’. And the experiment planted the seeds to create the Geiger counter. Science history is amazing!

[@KipIngram]

This was a very good video. You did a great job illuminating how Rutherford was able to use his data to see that the nucleus *had* to be compact (very compact). That was the key insight of his work. So, great job, man.

[@hoekbrwr]

You make a nice show from this science knowledge. The videos need a lot of effort to make. I love them mostly because you take every little step to the next question to ask and then present the answer. This gives the audience some time to start thinking themselves! Great teaching!

[@mfcreativitymiracleofcreat6333]

Beautifully explained. Never found a video so exciting to explain atomic models!

[@akbar20777]

Freakin’ Awesome Mahesh! Your passion is infectious and your roll playing is seriously wonderful. Thank you for making these videos.

[@ulyssesfewl1059]

There was one major flaw in Rutherford's experiment. I am somewhat surprised that you didn't point it out. The alpha particles produced by the radium had a complete spectrum of energies. Any alpha particles of the "correct" energy will b embedded in the gold foil, thus charging it up and repelling the low-end energy alpha particles back at the ZnS screen. Also, it seems rather odd that they knew that alpha particles came from substances (such as radium), yet they thought they could be emitted from a "plum pudding"? There's something very odd about all this.

[@santhoshs5427]

The most underrated KZbin channel forever 😢

[@Mahesh_Shenoy]

Thanks, Santosh 😊

[@janiso12345]

I love that the planetary atomic model is just a convention. It's based on literally nothing, other than; "well the planets orbit around the sun, maybe electrons orbit around the nucleus." And that model stuck for decades, hell even a century. When I was in school I was taught the planetary model. Though our teacher told us that it's not accurate but much easier.

[@j3e6m96]

man you are so much underrated .... please dont stop uploading

[@Janhvidhawan07]

Thank you Sir for this video! FINALLY ONE interesting video about all the failed models for atomic structures !

[@jamaicantreasures1740]

Loving your work! Keep making the videos for us.

[@robertnutley4050]

I appreciate you and your work. Especially because these long takes are so difficult and you just roll with, and keep in, the slip ups. Keep doing it all! Your candor is much needed. I think you could take this same conceptual approach to historical narratives and you would do quite well. I'd love to hear some of those conversations you'd play out.

[@pleasejustlmb]

bro the joy you have while explaining and making people understand the wonders of physics is extremely datioactive. your joy radiated to me and made me soooo excited to study further. i hope more people get to know how awesome you are. cheers man and have a good day

[@VRnamek]

fun science education video, plus awesome dramatization. Keep it up

[@marcfruchtman9473]

Very interesting. Thank you for elucidating this history...

[@martinestermann6817]

Thank you for expanding my knowledge in a more complete way by explaining the basics within the very same videos instead of just taking them as given.🙏

[@syiridium703]

Wolfgang Pauli foreshadowing at the end... Great video and please, definitely make more of these! Including the skits!

[@mthonyamampetsheni3420]

Absolutely loved this, easy to understand, fun..brilliant👍🏾

[@pixelpix1728]

It's so fascinating how one model *evolved* from the other, I'd always imagined the scattering was so strong Rutherford considered an elastic colision and infered the probable size of tge nucleous using the ratio between the scattered and non-scattered particles, kinda like Dalton's model as well! But now thinking about it, that assumes charge is carried by a solid particle, which isn't a very good assumption to have when you don't know about protons yet! Having Coulomb's Law as the source of the scattering is really interesting, I hadn't thought of it through that lens be before! Thanks a lot for your videos, you're the best!!

[@himanshupandae]

"Hey Rutherford what's up" was awesome😂

[@michaelkahn1834]

Really great videos..not just entertaining but genuinely informative and substantial...bravo!

[@georgesampson4714]

Oooo! But now we need to ask what does "Empty" mean? What does "Size" of an atom mean? One answer ---> two more questions. Will it ever end? Your visualization of size of nucleus vs atom is about the best I have ever seen.

[@sudiptoatutube]

I enjoyed watching this as much as you enjoyed making it. Great!

[@md.hasibulhossen6062]

What an explanation with the excitements. Love this man...keep making more.

[@Kdd160]

Very underrated science channel

[@Mahesh_Shenoy]

Thanks, Buddy!

[@trihuu4024]

Thank you so much for your videos. It really helps me to understand hard-to-grasp physics intuitively. Hope you will always keep making videos like these.

[@lakshmp4530]

Loved this! So helpful for a non-scientist to understand!!

[@bookert2373]

I greatly appreciate your work in creating understandable and entertaining explanations of physics. Your obvious enthusiasm is refreshing - there are already too many experts with an ‘authoritative’ teaching style - learning and discovery is, and should be, joyous. Thank you!

[@kaustubhpandey1395]

Please keep making more of this series❤

[@derekgreenacre9530]

I have always believed the best way to teach Science is through its historic perspective you have done that brilliantly by showing time line of the discoveries and how the theory had to be modified to accommodate new data. Well done a brilliant lecture.

[@ramonruilopezv.9457]

Bravo…. Continue creating great videos. It will be shared with my students.

[@hollisspear6278]

In my own experience words often go in one ear, through my empty head, and come out the other ear. Thanks for the explanation.

[@dglebla]

A very good video! Well done! You are a good teacher! Love your enthusiasm.

[@PioLisieux]

Glad YT recommended your channel. Good video my friend

[@BalajiBk14]

One of the best video 💥

[@BloobleBonker]

Really excellent video and thought provoking too.

[@racastilho]

Fantastic job! Please, do continue!

[@duncancampbell5761]

Your explanations of atomic physics are fantastic. I have read a few of Feynman's books for lay persons about electromagnetics and you are better since he tries to avoid the math (in the ones I have read) and you are brave enough to combine both! Do more!

[@atlantasailor1]

Super explanations and history lessons. Enjoyed much.

[@partha2utub]

My kids are enjoying your video and learning has become so fun for them. Thanks for your videos 🙏🏼

[@jeffli6355]

Your video is really fun and inspiring. You deliver knowlegde by telling stories. And I cannot wait to watch your new videos explaining the birth and evolvement of quantum mechanics.

[@biplobhimu]

Thanks for sharing! ❤ It'll be so helpful if you clear some confusions about this topic, I mean about atom and it's structure. It's hard to think the distribution of electrons. What is the actual diagram of electrons distribution around a nucleus.. Please explain in a video. _Your student from Bangladesh 😊

[@laurie886]

Another great video thank you. Looking forward to seeing the next one

[@RajaBabu-ur5kf]

Loved it, please make more videos like this!

[@Satnam7275]

Nice way of explaining. Love it

[@quackqq]

Just wondering... could negative particles have been used instead of alpha particles?

[@Mahesh_Shenoy]

We needed heavy particles. I think that’s why we went with alpha. The only other choice was beta.

[@quackqq]

​@@Mahesh_Shenoy Okay sir. I just finished watching the video, so I would say please make more videos on quantum it's one of the topics that fascinates me the most!

[@Satnam7275]

The radio active substance emits alpha, beta and gamma simultaneously. So how did Rutherford filter out beta particles.

[@danielfranceski228]

Excellent explanation and presentation. Thanks

[@DIVYA-os5wd]

plz keep making such videos!!👍

[@Gu66y453]

Really want you to explain electrons and electron orbitals next!

[@GoldFoilDecendent]

Great Stuff. Would love to see you follow this line of thought and study further towards the splitting of the uranium atom.

[@drbillcoburger4736]

Wonderful video. Just found you on Utube. Watched three in a row, and understand electron (apparent) quantum "spin" and electromagnetic attraction and repulsion relating to Coulomb's Law and Relativity.

[@bablumalla5190]

Great video again 👏🏼👏🏼🎉🎉.I knew most of the contents of the video but i watch this video because of your way of communicating any science topic. Why don't you start a course on how to communicate science ? If you can pls 🙏🙏. Hoping to get notification of next video of this soon .

[@Mahesh_Shenoy]

That's such an encouraging comment, Bablu!

[@victorbirgisson2957]

Amazing video! You rock!

[@REVIEWSGALATTA]

You should continue this series and also explain how jj Thompson discovered electron by cathode ray tube experiment and how did he figured out e/m value of electron

[@danutvornicu]

I like your video and your way of describing things. Congrats! I found years ago this percentage of empty space in the atom's volume. I'm curious to see how and with what you will fill this emptiness.

[@dananorth895]

Fields.

[@danutvornicu]

@@dananorth895 Could be, indeed. Still, the term field is very ambiguous and unclear, it is mostly a math term not a real one. However, I'm waiting his way of thinking to see how will fill it.

[@krish-ut9de]

thank you for the videosir

[@sameerkpatil123]

One thing you missed talking about is the mass of the nucleus. Alpha particles were known to be massive. So the nucleus, although very small, had to contain most of the mass of the atom, to make the alpha particles rebound like that.

[@iec0]

I never understood the alpha scattering experiment but now I can say I do...all the context really helps..as to why it was needed what was before...really good work...btw is there a follow up video to this one...?

[@TejasIsAmazing]

18:17 How did you get to that percent? If the nucleus is 100000 times smaller than the atom, then Let x = size of atom size of nucleus = y We know y = x/100000 Space left in atom = Size of atom-size of nucleus = x-x/100000 = 99999/100000 x or 0.99999 of the original atom to get the percentage, we multiply by 100 Therefore empty space = 99.999% of the atom

[@Mahesh_Shenoy]

That’s the radius. For 3D space, we need to calculate the volume ;)

[@TejasIsAmazing]

Ok nevermind, the 100000 times smaller is the diameter! So volumetrically the nucleus is 99.9999999999999% smaller. Damn the nucleus is so much smaller than i realised!

[@TejasIsAmazing]

​@@Mahesh_ShenoyWhoops, ya, just realised that!

[@Mahesh_Shenoy]

@@TejasIsAmazing It's inconceivable!!!!

[@sarfarazansari8153]

You are explain so well. Physics looks interesting

[@Roj0307]

Honestly, if I was on a desert island and could only watch ONE KZbin channel, this one would be it, period.

[@AndrewBackhouse1]

I really like your sense of humour. Plus educational content is great!

[@chipdenman863]

Excellent lesson

[@deandeann1541]

The plum pudding model seems outdated and incorrect to us - yet most people do not realize that the Bohr model is just as outdated and incorrect. The public thinks electrons resemble little orbiting planets circling a sun-like nucleus. It is so wrong, and leads to completely incorrect assumptions about the behavior of atoms. An electron is best described as a probability density cloud associated with the position of the negative charges associated with a given atom - a given electron can be in a number of positions and need not be found between these positions (there are nodes with a zero probability). I would love to find a video that clearly describes why electron orbitals have the shapes they have, and that clearly explains why electrons must inhabit clearly distinct shells. eg why does an s orbital have a spherical probability distribution while a p orbital has a tetrahedral distribution? Why does a d orbital resemble an equatorial torus superimposed upon a north-south polar distribution? Why causes the Schrodinger equation to collapse to these specific distributions? I would also like to understand what exactly happens when an atom's shell structure collapses during the creation of a neutron star, creating degenerate matter. Is it known whether any form of degenerate or strange matter could be stable outside of the intense gravity field that creates it? eg can it exist at pressures found at the Earth's center, or in a vacuum? My understanding is that it is thought that degenerate matter is unstable outside of the environment that creates it, but much is uncertain. I wonder what the half life would be. I wonder what happens when two neutron stars collide - I assume that exposed degenerate matter will explode with predominantly a burst of gamma radiation, but I am guessing. Can degenerate matter behave as a solid, or will it behave more as a liquid or gas? Are there phase changes? Does degenerate matter behave as a black body and emit electromagnetic energy? Does it have an associated temperature? What happens to excess protons or electrons when a neutron star forms? Fundamental questions are the most interesting!

[@Lakiozoon]

I love quoting Douglas Adams. In relation to the ability of humankind to ask the right questions (after a man made computer spent billions of years just to give the answer "42" to the The great question of Life, The Universe and Everything) the computer answered " I think the problem, to be quite honest with you, is that you've never actually known what the question is".

[@auriuman78]

Absolutely, do more! I was shocked when I looked at the likes being so relatively low... Then I saw this was only 6 days ago... So yeah, I'm hanging on a cliff bro, bring me more! Great work by the way 😊

[@tfragia1]

Awesome video. I don't think many people are aware of the stadium model of the atom. That always blew me away. 🙂 I hit the subscribe button. 👍

[@SureshGururajan]

Amazing set of videos I happened to find on YT. Would love to see some coverage on general relativity which is my favorite topic :)

[@werefrogofassyria6609]

The Werefrog have shared your videos with a friend, and we agree, you are fun to watch and explain it well.

[@sureshkumarkp8802]

This video was an eye opener! I never thought about atoms quite the same way. I mean I've studied that atom is mostly empty space (not in school... no) but by following good tutorials and information on the internet. But that is where it stands. The asking right question part completely struck a chord with me. Please make this kind of videos. It really helps understand things in a new perspective. You are really underrated on youtube but hey people like me are always there to appreciate how good of a work you do ❤🙏

[@Mahesh_Shenoy]

Thanks a lot, Suresh! Love the support man. That’s keep the channel going!

[@meherbanusyeda6463]

PLEAASEE sir do keep making such videos and please can you answer the question which now my EMPTY brain is wondering about bcoz of this video-why cant we walk thr walls, seroiuslyy??? whats stopping us???

[@SamratDuttabdn]

My dude did so much science that Rutherford possesed him.

[@ajaykulkarni576]

Great video, contineu with your journey on Quatum...Cant wait for your next vidoe