What happens if an alpha particle hits the nucleus of an atom?
We actually say the alpha particle is scattered and comes away with less energy and the nucleus comes away having taken a bit from the alpha particle. With very small nuclei, the results are much more dramatic, particularly when we look at those elements with the lowest atomic numbers. As you can imagine, the smaller the atom, the more it reacts in the scattering process. A hydrogen-1 nucleus will “go flying” if it is involved in a scattering event with an alpha particle. And you can easily visualize that, too. Use the links below to related questions to learn more.
