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Person Ernest Rutherford
Asked 5 times across 4 UPSC exams over 6 years (2019–2025), peaking in 2021.
Key insights
- Most tested in NDA — 2 of 5 PYQs
- Most asked in 2021
- Recurs across 3 years (2019–2025)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CDS 2019 → NDA 2021 → CISF 2021 → GEO 2021
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (5 of 5) are since 2016.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
NDA2025
Which one of the following findings is NOT observed in Rutherford's Nuclear Model of Atom?
- A There is a neutral centre in an atom called nucleus ✓
- B Nearly all the mass of an atom resides in the nucleus
- C The electrons revolve around the nucleus in a circular path
- D The size of a nucleus is very small as compared to the size of atom
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
NDA2021
Rutherford's alpha-particle (α) scattering experiment was responsible for the discovery of which one of the following ?
- A Electron
- B Proton
- C Atomic Nucleus ✓
- D Neutron
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
CISF2021
Who among the following is known as the Father of Nuclear Physics ?
- A E. Rutherford ✓
- B J.J. Thomson
- C Niels Bohr
- D James Chadwick
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
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