Rutherford atomic model was the first step in the evolution of the modern atomic model. Ernest Rutherford was a keen scientist who worked to understand the distribution of electrons in an atom. He performed an experiment using alpha particles and gold foil and made the following observations:
- Most of the alpha particles passed straight through the gold foil.
- There was a deflection of the alpha particles by a small angle.
- Very small amount of alpha particles rebounded.
- An electron moving inward along a spiral path must continuously radiate energy. However in actual practice spectral lines of fixed wavelength are observed.