Historical Structure of the Atom

Explore the pivotal experiments that revealed the modern atomic structure through this 10-minute educational video from Yale University. Begin with Dalton's early theory of indivisible atoms, then examine Thomson's cathode ray tube experiment that discovered electrons and led to the plum pudding model. Learn about Millikan's oil drop experiment that determined the charge and mass of electrons, and conclude with Rutherford's groundbreaking gold foil experiment that disproved the plum pudding model and established our current understanding of atomic structure featuring a dense, positively charged nucleus surrounded by electrons. Gain insight into how these foundational experiments built upon each other to transform our understanding of matter at the atomic level.