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  4. In a Rutherford scattering experiment when a projectile of charge Z 1 and mass M 1 approaches a target nucleus of charge Z 2 and mass M 2, the distance of closest approach is r 0. The energy of the projectile is :

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Q. In a Rutherford scattering experiment when a projectile of charge $Z _{1}$ and mass $M _{1}$ approaches a target nucleus of charge $Z _{2}$ and mass $M _{2}$, the distance of closest approach is $r _{0}$. The energy of the projectile is :

AIPMTAIPMT 2009Atoms

Solution:

Energy of the projectile is the potential energy
at closest approach, $\frac{1}{4 \pi \varepsilon_{0}} \frac{z_{1} z_{2}}{r}$
Therefore energy $\propto z_{1} z_{2}$.