The Rutherford scattering experiment showed that the nucleus of an atom: is concentrated in a tiny volume and is positively charged. In the experiment, when alpha particles were fired at a thin gold foil, most of the alpha particles passed straight through, but a few were deflected considerably. This result led Rutherford to conclude that the positive charge of the atom is concentrated in a small, dense nucleus at the center of the atom. The fact that some alpha particles were deflected strongly indicated that there was a positively charged nucleus within the atom. This experiment was crucial in developing our understanding of atomic structure and led to the model of the atom with a central nucleus containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons.