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Who discovered the nucleus? Werner Heisenberg Jon Snow Ernest Rutherford Jeremy Corbyn

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Who discovered the nucleus?
Werner Heisenberg
Jon Snow
Ernest Rutherford
Jeremy Corbyn

Who discovered the nucleus? Werner Heisenberg Jon Snow Ernest Rutherford Jeremy Corbyn

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HazelProfessional · Tutor for 6 years

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Ernest Rutherford

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The discovery of the atomic nucleus is largely credited to Ernest Rutherford. In 1911, through his famous gold foil experiment, he first conceptualized the existence of a dense, positively charged nucleus at the center of an atom. Expecting α-particles to travel straight through gold foil, he observed this quite unexpected phenomenon: a few α-particles bounced directly backwards. Through logical deduction, Rutherford proceeded to explain this surprising observation by putting forth the nuclear model of the atom. This model involves a dense, positive center or nucleus composed of protons (and later concluded, neutrons as well) and surrounded by peripheral, light-weight, negatively charged electrons. Therefore, despite the array of esteemed individuals presented in the question, only one of them contributed to the 20th-century revolutionary science breakthrough - the atomic nucleus.
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