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Quantum & RelativityAtomic Physics

Atoms Are Mostly Empty

If an atom were a stadium, the nucleus would be a marble

The chair under you feels rock solid. Yet its atoms are almost entirely empty of mass. So what's holding you up?

You'll find out

  • What bounced back in 1909
  • How small the nucleus really is
  • What all of us would squeeze into

Why it matters

Rutherford said it was as incredible as a 15-inch shell bouncing off tissue paper. It reshaped our picture of matter.

About 3 min6 interactive slides · 5 questionsLesson 53 · Zone 6

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