SP6a.

3 Atomic models – Homework 1

Name Class Date ________

1 These names describe three models of the atom. Write numbers next to each name to show the order in
which they were suggested.

□ plum pudding model □ Rutherford’s model □ atoms as spheres

2 Tick (✓) the correct columns to show which statements apply to each model.

Plum pudding Rutherford’s Atoms as

model model spheres

a An atom is a solid sphere.   

b An atom consists of parts with negative and positive   
charges.

c Negative charges in the atom are called electrons.   

d The atom is a mass of positively charged material with   
electrons scattered through it.

e Most of the atom is empty space.   

f The mass of the atom is concentrated in a central   
nucleus.

g The positive charge in an atom is concentrated in the   

central nucleus.

3 One of Rutherford’s experiments fired alpha particles at gold foil. Which statement explains what
Rutherford should have found if the plum pudding model were correct?

 Some particles could bounce back from the atomic nuclei.

 All the alpha particles would go through the foil, because there would not be enough mass concentrated
in one place to deflect them.
4 Which two of the following statements describe what Rutherford did find in his experiment?

 Some alpha particles passed straight through the foil.

 All the alpha particles passed straight through the foil.

 All the alpha particles were scattered through large angles.

 Some alpha particles were scattered, some of them by large angles.

5 Explain Rutherford’s results by drawing lines to match the sentence halves.

The particles that went straight through … … passed close to the positively charged
nucleus.

The particles that were deflected by small … passed through the empty space between
angles … the nucleus and the electrons in the atoms.

The particles that were deflected by large … hit the dense, positively charged nucleus.
angles …

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 SP6a.4 Atomic models – Homework 2
1 Describe the plum pudding model of the atom.
2 Ernest Rutherford’s team of scientists carried out experiments between 1909 and 1913.
a Describe the results that Rutherford’s team obtained when they fired alpha particles at gold foil.
b Explain what results they would have expected if the plum pudding model were correct.
c Describe the model of the atom that Rutherford suggested following these experiments.
d How does this model explain the results of the alpha-scattering experiment?
3 These diagrams show three different models of the atom.

A B C

The bullet points below give some information about the different models.
● Ernest Rutherford carried out experiments to investigate the structure of the atom.
● J.J. Thompson suggested the plum pudding model of the atom in 1904.
● John Dalton suggested his model of the atom in 1805. It has sometimes been called a billiard ball
model.
● Rutherford’s model describes atoms as consisting of …
● Rutherford’s model explains the results of the alpha-scattering experiments by saying that …
● Rutherford’s team fired alpha particles at thin gold foil, and found that …
● The plum pudding model describes an atom as …
● This model explained how electrons might be part of the atom.
● This model helped scientists to explain some of the properties of matter.
Put the sentences in the bullet points into a sensible order and use them to help you to write one or two
paragraphs to describe how and why the atomic model has changed over time.
A good answer will link ideas in a sensible order and use correct grammar, spelling and punctuation. You
can change the wording in the bullet points if you wish.

Extra challenge
4 Dalton’s model of atoms as spheres is still used to explain observations such as substances expanding
when they are heated. Suggest why this model is still used even though we now have more detailed atomic
models.

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purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free. 4