Image Caption
Rutherford published a description of his idea, which was later modified by Niels Bohr.
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This image is part of a series:
Rutherford and the atom (1 of 4)
Ernest Rutherford used alpha particles (helium atoms stripped of their electrons) to learn about the structure of the atom.
Rutherford and the atom (2 of 4)
By firing alpha particles through gold foil, Rutherford was able to test ideas about the interior of the atom.