Nuclear Model - GCSE Physics Definition

The nuclear model is a way of describing the structure of an atom, which is a tiny particle that makes up everything around us. In this model, the atom is pictured as having a small, positively charged, dense centre called the nucleus. This nucleus is made up of protons, which have a positive charge, and neutrons, which have no charge. Around the nucleus, there are tiny particles called electrons, which have a negative charge. These electrons move in spaces known as electron shells or orbits. The nuclear model helps us understand how atoms are organised and why they behave in certain ways in chemical reactions. It was introduced by scientist Ernest Rutherford after his gold foil experiment, which showed that most of an atom is empty space and helped refine earlier models of the atom.