Which scientist's simple model of the atom was widely accepted as correct for nearly 2400 years?

• A. John Dalton
• B. Democritus
• C. Ernest Rutherford
• D. J.J. Thomson

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the historical context of atomic models: Early ideas about the atom were proposed by ancient philosophers before modern scientific methods were developed.
2. Recall that Democritus, an ancient Greek philosopher, proposed the idea of the atom as an indivisible particle, which was a simple and influential model.
3. Recognize that Democritus' model was widely accepted for nearly 2400 years because it was one of the earliest attempts to explain the nature of matter without experimental evidence.
4. Note that John Dalton, J.J. Thomson, and Ernest Rutherford developed more advanced atomic models much later, based on experimental data.
5. Conclude that the simple model of the atom accepted for nearly 2400 years was that of Democritus.