A student sets up an analogue demonstration of Rutherford alpha particle scattering using an air-hockey table.

A large, strong, circular neodymium disc magnet is fixed securely to the center of the table, representing the gold nucleus. Small, identical neodymium puck magnets (representing the alpha particles) are launched across the table towards the central magnet. All magnets are oriented with their north poles facing upwards so that they repel each other.