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Rutherford experiment with MCA

Product No: P2522115

Principle

The relationship between the angle of scattering and the rate of scattering of alpha-particles by gold foil is examined with a semiconductor detector. This detector has a detection probability of 1for alpha-particles and virtually no zero effect, so that the number of pulses agrees exactly with the number of alpha-particles striking the detector. In order to obtain maximum possible counting rates, a measurement geometry is used which dates back to Chadwick. It is also possible in this case to shift the foil and source in an axial direction (thus deviating from Chadwick's original apparatus), so that the angle of scattering can be varied over a wide range. In addition to the annular diaphragm with gold foil, a second diaphragm with aluminium foil is provided in order to study the influence of the scattering material on the scattering rate.

Tasks

The particle rates are measured at different angles of scattering between about 20° and 90°. The measurements are compared with the particle rates calculated by means of the Rutherford theory for the measurement geometry used.
The particle rates are measured in the case of scattering by aluminium and gold with identical angles of scattering in each case. The ratio of the two particle rates is compared with the particle rate calculated from Rutherford's scattering equation.

What you can learn about

Scattering
Angle of scattering
Impact parameter
Central force
Coulomb field
Coulomb forces
Rutherford atomic model
Identity of atomic number and charge on the nucleus

Materiallist (Excerpt)	Product	Amount
Alpha detector	09100-00	1
Multi channel analyser - extended version suitable also for operation of the X-ray energy detector	13727-99	1
Container f.nuclear phys.expts.	09103-00	1
Diaphragm pump, two stage, 220V	08163-93	1
Vacuum gauge DVR 2, 1 ... 1000 hPa, 1 hPa resolution	34171-00	1
Pre-amplifier f.alpha detector	09100-10	1
Annular diaphragm with gold foil	09103-02	1
Annular diaphragm with aluminium foil	09103-03	1
U-magnet, large	06320-00	1
measure Software multi channel analyser	14452-61	1
Screened cable, BNC, l 750 mm	07542-11	3
Vacuum tube, NBR, 6/15 mm, 1 m	39289-00	2
Pinchcock, width 20 mm	43631-20	1
Tubing connect.,Y-shape, ID 8-9mm	47518-03	1
Laboratory Experiments Physics, Chemistry, Biology andApplied Sciences, CD-ROM, incl. operating manuals	16502-42	1