Rutherford's experiment, which established the nuclear model of the atom, used a beam of: (IIT 2002)
a. β -particles, which impinged on a metal foil and got absorbed
b. γ -rays, which impinged on a metal foil and ejected electrons
c. helium atoms, which impinged on a metal foil and got scattered
d. helium nuclei, which impinged on a metal foil and got scattered