Rutherford's experiments use energies of about 5.5 MeV which gives the distance of closest approach of 4.0 x 10-14 m.
What happens if the energies of higher than this magnitude are used in the experiment?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The distance of closest approach will be smaller because the scattering will then be affected by the nuclear forces which will then come into affect.