WAEC Physics 2010 Theory — Question 10

Model answer

Conclusions from Rutherford's model: (i) The electrons are revolving around the nucleus at high speed. (ii) The volume of the nucleus is negligibly small compared to that of the volume of the atom. (iii) Most of the space in an atom is empty. (iv) The number of electrons in an atom is equal to the number of protons, hence it is electrically neutral. (v) The atom of an element consists of a small, positively charged nucleus in the centre, which centres almost the entire mass of the atom (any three).