Distance of closest approach

Rutherford scattering · ch12-atoms

Vary the alpha-particle kinetic energy K and target Z to see how the head-on distance of closest approach r0 changes.

Controls

Target atomic number Z79

energy K10.00 J

Live values

r_0 = \frac{2Ze^2}{4\pi\varepsilon_0 K}

Try this: x is alpha kinetic energy in MeV; vertical axis shows r0 in femtometres (fm). r0 is inversely proportional to K.