Some Early Experiments in Atomic Physics

It is appropriate at the beginning of a review of atomic structure to ask the question, How do we know what we know In other words, What crucial experiments have been performed and what do 3 

Consider the following situation. Suppose a cross wind of 10 miles/hour is blowing across a tennis court. If a tennis ball is moving perpendicular to the direction the wind is blowing, the ball will follow 

It was apparent to Thomson that if atoms in the metal electrode contained negative particles (electrons), they must also contain positive charges because atoms are electrically neutral. Thomson proposed a model for the atom in which positive and negative particles were embedded in some sort of matrix. The model became known as the plum pudding model because it resembled plums embedded in a pudding. Somehow, an equal number of positive and negative particles were held in this material. Of course we now know that this is an incorrect view of the atom, but the model did account for several features of atomic structure. 

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Warren, W. S. (2000). The Physical Basis of Chemistry, 2nd ed. Academic Press, San Diego, CA. Chapter 5 presents the results of some early experiments in atomic physics. 

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