Geiger and Marsden experiment. How did they create a vacuum?

In summary, Geiger and Marden most likely used a normal vacuum pump to create a vacuum for the Rutherford scattering experiment. Rutherford discovered the alpha particle through the use of a mass spectrometer and determined its charge to mass ratio to be 0.5e/amu, leading him to believe it was a helium nucleus. He later confirmed this by trapping and analyzing the ions.
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Hi, I would just like to know how did Geiger and Marden create a vacuum for alpha particles during the Rutherford scattering experiment? Also, when Rutherford discovered the alpha particle did he know it had +2e charge?

Any help would be appreciated. I've looked everywhere for the answers but can't find them anywhere :(

Thanks
 
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I couldn't find out how they created the vacuum, but I suspect they just used a normal vacuum pump. It's not exotic technology, considering that it was invented in 1650.

As for the alpha particles, he used a mass spectrometer to measure their charge to mass ratio. Since he got 0.5e/amu, he guessed that they were helium nuclei. To prove that they were actually helium nuclei, he trapped the ions, neutralized them, and analyzed the spectrum. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_particle#History_of_discovery_and_use
 

FAQ: Geiger and Marsden experiment. How did they create a vacuum?

1. What was the purpose of the Geiger and Marsden experiment?

The purpose of the Geiger and Marsden experiment was to investigate the structure of the atom and specifically, the distribution of positive charge within an atom.

2. What were the results of the Geiger and Marsden experiment?

The results of the experiment showed that most of the alpha particles passed through the gold foil with little to no deflection, but a small percentage were deflected at large angles, indicating the presence of a concentrated positive charge in the atom.

3. How was the vacuum created in the Geiger and Marsden experiment?

The vacuum in the experiment was created by using a vacuum pump, which removes air and other gases from a sealed chamber, creating a low-pressure environment.

4. Why did Geiger and Marsden use gold foil in their experiment?

Gold foil was used because it is a very thin and malleable material, allowing alpha particles to pass through it easily. Additionally, gold was chosen for its high density and therefore, a higher chance of interaction with the alpha particles.

5. How did the Geiger and Marsden experiment contribute to our understanding of the atom?

The Geiger and Marsden experiment provided evidence for the existence of a small, concentrated positive charge within the atom, which led to the development of the nuclear model of the atom. This experiment also disproved the previously accepted plum pudding model of the atom.

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