Rutherford observed that the atom consists predominantly of: b. Empty spaces. The experiment saw most alpha particles pass straight through the gold foil, which implied that atoms are composed of large amounts of open space.
Rutherford atomic model, also called nuclear atom or planetary model of the atom, description of the structure of atoms proposed (1911) by the New Zealand-born physicist Ernest Rutherford.
The model described the atom as a tiny, dense, positively charged core called a nucleus, in which nearly all the mass is concentrated, around which the light, negative constituents, called electrons, circulate at some distance, much like planets revolving around the Sun.
Learn more about Rutherford atomic model at Britannica.
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