In Rutherford’s experiment, what does the scattering of alpha-particles at small angles indicate?
**Bohr energy levels** E_n = -13.6/n² eV for hydrogen, negative indicating bound state, total energy = -13.6 eV ground state n=1, -3.4 eV n=2, -1.51 eV n=3, etc., photon energy for transition n_i → n_f is ΔE =13.6(1/n_f² -1/n_i²) eV, wavelength λ = hc/ΔE, h=6.6×10⁻³⁴ J·s, c=3×10⁸ m/s. Emission line spectrum characterized by discrete wavelengths because energy levels discrete. Small-angle scattering occurs when alpha-particles pass far from the nucleus (large impact parameter), experiencing weak repulsion. Using E_n = -13.6/n² eV, r_n = n² a₀, L = n h/2π, R = R₀ A^¹/³, BE = Δm c² and 1 u = 931.
Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Atoms and Nuclei > Bohr Model Energy Levels and Hydrogen Spectrum