Question
Answer the following questions, which help you understand the difference between Thomson's model and Rutherford's model better.
In which model is it completely wrong to ignore multiple scattering for the calculation of average angle of scattering of α-particles by a thin foil?
Solution
In Thomson's model, a single collision causes very little deflection. Multiple scattering has to be taken into account inorder to explain the average angle of scattering. So it is wrong to ignore multiple scattering in Thomson's model.
On the contrary, in Rutherford's model, most of the scattering comes through a single collision and multiple scattering effects can be ignored as a first approximation.
