Ionising Radiation
Quantum and Nuclear
Alpha particles scattering analogue: plastic hill and ramp
Teaching Guidance
for 14-16
The plastic hill and ramp can be used as an analogue for alpha particles (ball bearings) being scattered by the electric field around a nucleus. The hill is a 1/r shape (the same as the electrical potential around a nucleus due to its electric charge). This piece of apparatus is available from Philip Harris.
