Question

what caused the deflection of the alpha particles in rutherfords gold foil experiment? * (0.5 points)
positively charged gold nuclei
negatively charged electron cloud
large neutrons
the gold metal

Explanation:

In Rutherford's gold - foil experiment, alpha particles (positively charged) were deflected by the positively charged gold nuclei due to electrostatic repulsion. The negative electron cloud and neutral neutrons do not cause significant deflection of alpha particles in this context. The gold metal as a whole is not the direct cause of deflection; it's the charged nuclei within.

Answer:

A. Positively charged gold nuclei