Forces at Play in Geiger-Marsden Alpha Particle Scattering

[lingling]

Homework Statement

Which of the following forces is responsible for the scattering of an alpha particle by a gold atom in the Geiger-Marsden experiment?

A. electrostatic force between the alpha particle and the electrons of the gold atom

B. Electrostatic force between the alpha particle and the nucleus of the gold atom.

C. Gravitational force between the alpha particle and the nucleus of the gold atom

D. Nuclear force between the alpha particle and the nucleus of the gold atom.

Homework Equations

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The Attempt at a Solution

I 've chosen B and this is correct.
But I don't know what 's the meaning of 'nuclear force' in option D.

 

[Hootenanny]

The nuclear force was considered to be one of the fundamental forces and can be thought of to act between nucleons. However, the 'nuclear force' is now understood in terms of the strong interaction (in QCD) which acts between gluons, quarks and anti-quarks, however I feel this is a little deeper than you need to go. Unless you are studying Physics at Degree level, then all you need to know is that the strong nuclear force acts between nucleons and is strongly attractive, except at small distances where it becomes strongly repulsive.

 

[m2003]

The nuclear force, also known as the strong nuclear force, is the force responsible for holding together the nucleus of an atom. It is one of the four fundamental forces in nature and is responsible for binding the protons and neutrons in the nucleus together. In the context of the Geiger-Marsden experiment, it is the nuclear force that is responsible for the scattering of the alpha particle by the gold nucleus. This force is much stronger than the electrostatic force, which is why most of the alpha particles passed straight through the gold foil without being deflected.