Nuclear Physics

Rutherford Scattering

Simulate Ernest Rutherford's 1911 gold foil experiment. Watch alpha particles (He²⁺) deflect in hyperbolic Coulomb trajectories off heavy atomic nuclei (Z=79 Gold), demonstrating the concentrated positive nucleus.

Scattering Angle θ 45.2°

Impact Parameter b 12.5 fm

Min Distance r_min 18.2 fm

Target & Beam Parameters

Target Element

Alpha Kinetic Energy E 5.0 MeV

Impact Parameter b 20 fm

Visual Overlay

Show Mass & Charge Badges

Show Velocity & Coulomb Force Vectors

Fire Multi-Alpha Particle Beam

Show Hyperbolic Trajectory Markers

Controls

Rutherford Differential Cross Section

Coulomb Repulsion: F = (1 / 4πε₀) · (2Ze² / r²)
Scattering Angle: cot(θ / 2) = (2b / d) where d = (2Ze² / 4πε₀ E) is closest approach.
Cross Section: dσ/dΩ = (z Ze² / 16πε₀ E)² / sin⁴(θ / 2)

Developer Reference

Core Algorithm & Standalone Script

// Rutherford scattering Coulomb potential engine
const canvas = document.getElementById('canvas');
const ctx = canvas.getContext('2d');
// F = k * q1 * q2 / r^2