Which of the following statements about this experiment and the underlying physics is not correct?
If the initial kinetic energy of the incoming alpha particles is increased beyond a certain threshold, they can come close enough to the nucleus to experience the strong nuclear force, leading to deviations from the predicted Coulomb scattering distribution.
The metal foil target must be manufactured to be exceptionally thin to ensure that we can assume any deflected alpha particle has undergone only a single scattering event.
During a direct head-on collision, the alpha particle momentarily halts at a distance of closest approach, at which point its initial kinetic energy has been fully converted into electrostatic potential energy.
The rare backscattering of alpha particles through angles greater than 90∘90^\circ90∘ is primarily caused by the strong nuclear force attracting the alpha particles when they pass very close to the edge of the nucleus.
128 exam-style questions on AQA A Level Physics Radioactivity (A-level only), covering Rutherford scattering (A-level only), $\alpha$ , $\beta$ and $\gamma$ radiation (A-level only), Radioactive decay (A-level only), Nuclear instability (A-level only), Nuclear radius (A-level only), Mass and energy (A-level only), Induced fission (A-level only), and Safety aspects (A-level only). Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.