Give the salient features of Rutherford's nuclear model of the atom.

(N/A) Rutherford conducted an alpha-particle scattering experiment and proposed a model of the atom known as Rutherford's nuclear model. The salient features of this model are as follows:
$(i)$ The atom contains a central part called the nucleus,which is surrounded by electrons.
$(ii)$ The nucleus of an atom is positively charged.
$(iii)$ The size of the nucleus is very small compared to the total size of the atom.
$(iv)$ The mass of an atom is mainly concentrated within its nucleus.
$(v)$ The atom as a whole is electrically neutral,i.e.,the number of protons inside the nucleus of an atom and the number of electrons surrounding it are equal.
$(vi)$ The nucleus is dense and hard,and most of the space within the atom is hollow.
$(vii)$ To explain why electrons do not fall into the nucleus due to electrostatic attraction,Rutherford proposed that electrons are not stationary but revolve around the nucleus in circular orbits. The force of attraction is balanced by the centrifugal force generated due to the revolution of electrons.
Rutherford's nuclear model is similar to our solar system,where the nucleus acts like the Sun and the electrons act like the planets.