Rutherford selected gold foil because he wanted the thinnest possible layer to increase the likelihood of interactions between the alpha particles and the atoms in the foil.
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Rutherford designed an experiment where fast-moving alpha (α)-particles were directed at a thin gold foil.
Thomson’s analogies aimed to provide a visual and conceptual understanding of the atom’s structure, making it more accessible and relatable to everyday objects.
Thomson visualized electrons as currants in a Christmas pudding or seeds in a watermelon, studded within the positively charged sphere of the atom.
Thomson compared the distribution of positive charge in the atom to the red edible part of a watermelon, spread throughout the sphere.