Question
The Periodic Table Online Practice
Complete this assessment to review what you’ve learned. It will not count toward your grade.
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Question
A simulation at the nuclear level has nuclei with 20 protons and 100 neutrons. Alpha particles can get very close to the nuclei. When the nuclei have 100 protons and 20 neutrons, the alpha particles cannot get as close to the nuclei. The nucleus is the same size in both scenarios. Why does the motion of the alpha particles differ?(1 point)
Responses
Protons attract the particles, while neutrons do not.
Protons attract the particles, while neutrons do not.
Neutrons attract the particles, while protons do not.
Neutrons attract the particles, while protons do not.
Protons repel the particles, while neutrons do not.
Protons repel the particles, while neutrons do not.
Neutrons repel the particles, while protons do not.
Complete this assessment to review what you’ve learned. It will not count toward your grade.
8 of 158 of 15 Items
Question
A simulation at the nuclear level has nuclei with 20 protons and 100 neutrons. Alpha particles can get very close to the nuclei. When the nuclei have 100 protons and 20 neutrons, the alpha particles cannot get as close to the nuclei. The nucleus is the same size in both scenarios. Why does the motion of the alpha particles differ?(1 point)
Responses
Protons attract the particles, while neutrons do not.
Protons attract the particles, while neutrons do not.
Neutrons attract the particles, while protons do not.
Neutrons attract the particles, while protons do not.
Protons repel the particles, while neutrons do not.
Protons repel the particles, while neutrons do not.
Neutrons repel the particles, while protons do not.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct response to the question is:
**Protons repel the particles, while neutrons do not.**
This is because protons are positively charged, and alpha particles, which are also positively charged (consisting of 2 protons and 2 neutrons), experience a repulsive force when they approach another positively charged particle. In contrast, neutrons are neutral and do not exert any electrostatic repulsive or attractive forces on the alpha particles. Therefore, with the configuration of 100 protons, the stronger repulsion prevents the alpha particles from getting as close as they can with nuclei having only 20 protons.
**Protons repel the particles, while neutrons do not.**
This is because protons are positively charged, and alpha particles, which are also positively charged (consisting of 2 protons and 2 neutrons), experience a repulsive force when they approach another positively charged particle. In contrast, neutrons are neutral and do not exert any electrostatic repulsive or attractive forces on the alpha particles. Therefore, with the configuration of 100 protons, the stronger repulsion prevents the alpha particles from getting as close as they can with nuclei having only 20 protons.