Using experiments to understand atomic theory is really interesting. It helps turn big ideas into things we can actually picture in our minds. Here are some important experiments that show this:

1. Cathode Ray Tube Experiment:

   • J.J. Thomson used a device called the cathode ray tube to find electrons. When he turned on a voltage, beams of rays moved from one end of the tube to the other. This showed that atoms have even smaller parts inside them. This discovery of the electron was a big deal!

2. Gold Foil Experiment:

   • Ernest Rutherford did an experiment where he shot tiny particles at a very thin sheet of gold. Most of the particles went right through, but some hit and bounced back at sharp angles. This meant there is a small, heavy center in an atom, which he called the nucleus. This changed how we think about the structure of the atom.

3. Impact on Atom Models:

   • These experiments helped create different models of the atom. People went from Thomson’s "plum pudding" model to Rutherford’s nuclear model and then to the more complicated quantum mechanical model.

In short, these experiments not only support atomic theory but also show how science grows and changes as we find new evidence. It's amazing to see how our ideas about atoms have developed over time!