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CognitoHistory of the atom — development of atomic models
Key facts & methods
Timeline of atomic models — fill in the table
| Scientist | Contribution |
|---|
| Dalton (1803) | |
| Thomson (1897) | |
| Rutherford (1909–11) | |
| Bohr (1913) | |
| Chadwick (1932) | |
The gold foil experiment (Rutherford) — fill in the table
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|
| Setup | |
| Expected (plum pudding model) | |
| Observed | |
| Conclusion | |
| Key point | |
Why scientific models change — fill in the table
| Term | Detail |
|---|
| Why models change | |
| Model evolution process | |
| Progress of science | |
| Dalton → Thomson | |
| Thomson → Rutherford | |
| Rutherford → Bohr | |
Exam questions — 4 questions · 10 marks · AQA 8462 style
⚡ Show all working — the AI marks against the AQA mark scheme. Method marks awarded for correct working even if the final answer is wrong.
1 markPlum pudding modelAQA 8462 style
Who proposed the "plum pudding" model of the atom and what discovery prompted it?
A Dalton — discovery of the proton
B Thomson — discovery of the electron
C Rutherford — gold foil experiment
D Bohr — observation of atomic spectra
4 marksGold foil experimentAQA 8462 P1 style
Describe the results of Rutherford's gold foil experiment and explain what each observation tells us about atomic structure. (4 marks)
Hint: Three observations → three deductions. For each: state what was observed AND what it tells us about the atom.
+40 XP
1 markChadwick contributionAQA 8462 style
What did Chadwick's discovery of the neutron explain?
A Why electrons orbit the nucleus in fixed shells
B Why atoms are mostly empty space
C Why atomic mass is greater than can be accounted for by protons alone
D Why atoms are electrically neutral overall
1 markModel progressionAQA 8462 style
Which sequence correctly shows how the atomic model developed?
A Bohr → Rutherford → Thomson → Dalton
B Dalton (solid sphere) → Thomson (plum pudding) → Rutherford (nuclear) → Bohr (shells)
C Dalton → Bohr → Rutherford → Thomson
D Thomson → Dalton → Bohr → Rutherford
Quick recall flashcards
Module complete! 🎉
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