Models of the Atom ithin the diagram are three models of atoms. *The first atom shows the Dalton model, which is a solid sphere. *The second atom shows the Thomson model, which is a solid sphere with positive and negative charges throughout. *The third atom is the Rutherford model showing the path of a moving electron. An open sphere is weaved with electrons moving around the center nucleus. At the bottom is the following timeline information: *1803 -John Dalton pictures atoms as tiny, indestructible particles, with no internal structure. *1897 J. J. Thomson, a British scientist, discovers the electron, leading to his “plum-pudding” model. He pictures electrons embedded in a sphere of positive electric charge. *1904 Hantaro Nagaoka, a Japanese physicist, suggests that an atom has a central nucleus. Electrons move in orbits like the rings around Saturn. *1911 New Zealander Ernest Rutherford states that an atom has a dense, positively charged nucleus. Electrons move randomly in the space around the nucleus.