Build an Atom Simulation

In this activity you will explore the atom using a computer simulation. 
Open the Build an Atom Simlulation - click on the PHeT link below.  
Click on the Atom option on the first screen.
Click on the green plus sign next to Net Charge
Click on the green plus sign next to Mass Number

1

What is the center of the atom called? _______  (1 word answer)

1

Go to Build an Atom Simulation then click the play button. Once open, click on the Atom icon.

Explore the Build an Atom simulation for a few minutes.

What particles go in the center of the atom?

Exploring the simulation

1

What element did you make when you added one proton, one neutron, and one electron?
_____________ 
<Hint you can press reset, the orange button and then do add one of each to see>

Based on what you determined above: Which subatomic particles are responsible for:

Draggable item		Corresponding Item
electron		determining the MASS NUMBER of the atom
proton		determining the NET CHARGE of the atom
neutron		determining the IDENTITY of the atom

Part II -  Building Atoms of Elements:  For questions 7-11, you will build an element using the Phet Simulation and then you will record the number of protons, neutrons and electrons, and then identify the element and its symbol. 

1

1. Reset the simulation by pushing the orange circle with the arrow.  

2. Click on the green plus sign next to Net Charge 
3. Click on the green plus sign next to Mass Number
4. Add 5 protons (only).  Add 6 neutrons (only).  Add 5 electrons (only),


p+ = _______         Name of Element: _______ 
n0 = _______         Element Symbol: _______      
e- = _______ 

1

1. Reset the simulation by pushing the orange circle with the arrow.  

2. Click on the green plus sign next to Net Charge 
3. Click on the green plus sign next to Mass Number
4. Add 3 protons.  Add 4 neutrons.  Add 3 electrons,


p+ =_______       Name of Element:_______ 
n0 =_______       Element Symbol:  _______ 
e- =_______  

1

1. Reset the simulation by pushing the orange circle with the arrow.  

2. Click on the green plus sign next to Net Charge 
3. Click on the green plus sign next to Mass Number
4. Add 7 protons.  Add 8 neutrons.  Add 7 electrons,

p+ = _______                         Name of Element: _______ 
n0 = _______                          Element Symbol: _______ 
e- = _______ 

1

1. Reset the simulation by pushing the orange circle with the arrow.  

2. Click on the green plus sign next to Net Charge 
3. Click on the green plus sign next to Mass Number
4. Add 9 protons.  Add 10 neutrons.  Add 9 electrons,

p+ = _______                    Name of Element: _______ 
n0 =  _______                   Element Symbol: _______ 
e- =_______ 

1

1. Reset the simulation by pushing the orange circle with the arrow.
2. Click on the green plus sign next to Net Charge
3. Click on the green plus sign next to Mass Number
4. Using the simulation build a STABLE, NEUTRAL atom of CARBON.
5. Add the correct information in the "SHOW YOUR WORK" area provided. Use the shapes icon to draw circles of red (protons), black (neutrons), and blue (electrons) in their proper locations in the atom. (You can change font colors by clicking on the top square with a line through it.)

1

Use the protons, neutrons, and electrons to create three different atoms (of your choice) and fill in the table below.

1

What is the name of the atom that has:

# of protons: 6
# of neutrons: 7
# of electrons: 7

Name of Element: _______ 

1

Everything around us is made up of different elements. The air has Oxygen and Nitrogen. Plants and people have lots of Carbon. Helium is in balloons. Hydrogen is in water.

Play until you discover a rule for what part of an atom determines the name of the element you build. What did you find determines the element?

1

Play until you discover some good rules about the charge of your atom.

What makes the charge of the atom go up (become more positive)?

<There are two answers>

1

Play until you discover some good rules about the charge of your atom.

What makes the charge of the atom go down (become more negative)? Pick two.

<There are two answers>

1

Play until you discover some good rules about the charge of your atom.

To make sure an atom is neutral (doesn’t have a charge), you need to have the exact same number of which two subatomic particles.

<There are two answers>

1

Play until you discover some good rules about the mass of your atom.

What makes the mass of the atom go up?
<Hint: add electrons, protons, and neutrons to see which effects the mass>
<There are two answers>

1

Play until you discover some good rules about the mass of your atom.

What makes the mass of the atom go down?
<Hint: remove electrons, protons, and neutrons to see which effects the mass>
<There are two answers>

1

Draggable item		Corresponding Item
Proton		Nucleus
Neutron		Nucleus
Electron		Orbits (or Electron Cloud)

Draggable item		Corresponding Item
Proton		Nucleus
Neutron		Nucleus
Electron		Orbits (or Electron Cloud)

Build an Atom Simulation

Go to Build an Atom Simulation then click the play button. Once open, click on the Atom icon.Explore the Build an Atom simulation for a few minutes.What particles go in the center of the atom?

Exploring the simulation

Based on what you determined above: Which subatomic particles are responsible for:

p+ = _______ Name of Element: _______

n0 = _______ Element Symbol: _______

e- = _______

p+ =_______ Name of Element:_______

n0 =_______ Element Symbol: _______

e- =_______

p+ = _______ Name of Element: _______

n0 = _______ Element Symbol: _______

e- = _______

p+ = _______ Name of Element: _______

n0 = _______ Element Symbol: _______

e- =_______

Use the protons, neutrons, and electrons to create three different atoms (of your choice) and fill in the table below.

Play until you discover some good rules about the charge of your atom.What makes the charge of the atom go up (become more positive)?<There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the charge of your atom.What makes the charge of the atom go down (become more negative)? Pick two.<There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the charge of your atom.To make sure an atom is neutral (doesn’t have a charge), you need to have the exact same number of which two subatomic particles.<There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the mass of your atom.What makes the mass of the atom go up?<Hint: add electrons, protons, and neutrons to see which effects the mass><There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the mass of your atom.What makes the mass of the atom go down?<Hint: remove electrons, protons, and neutrons to see which effects the mass><There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the mass of your atom.Which particle seems to have no effect on the mass of an atom?

Go to Build an Atom Simulation then click the play button. Once open, click on the Atom icon.Explore the Build an Atom simulation for a few minutes.What particles go in the center of the atom?

Exploring the simulation

Add another proton to the atom you made. What changes?

Add another neutron to the atom you made. What changes?

Add another proton to the atom you made. What changes?

Add another electron to the atom you made. What changes?

Based on what you determined above: Which subatomic particles are responsible for:

p+ = _______ Name of Element: _______

n0 = _______ Element Symbol: _______

e- = _______

p+ =_______ Name of Element:_______

n0 =_______ Element Symbol: _______

e- =_______

p+ = _______ Name of Element: _______

n0 = _______ Element Symbol: _______

e- = _______

p+ = _______ Name of Element: _______

n0 = _______ Element Symbol: _______

e- =_______

Use the protons, neutrons, and electrons to create three different atoms (of your choice) and fill in the table below.

Play until you discover some good rules about the charge of your atom.What makes the charge of the atom go up (become more positive)?<There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the charge of your atom.What makes the charge of the atom go down (become more negative)? Pick two.<There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the charge of your atom.To make sure an atom is neutral (doesn’t have a charge), you need to have the exact same number of which two subatomic particles.<There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the mass of your atom.What makes the mass of the atom go up?<Hint: add electrons, protons, and neutrons to see which effects the mass><There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the mass of your atom.What makes the mass of the atom go down?<Hint: remove electrons, protons, and neutrons to see which effects the mass><There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the mass of your atom.Which particle seems to have no effect on the mass of an atom?

Add another proton to the atom you made. What changes?

Add another neutron to the atom you made. What changes?

Add another proton to the atom you made. What changes?

Add another electron to the atom you made. What changes?

Go to Build an Atom Simulation then click the play button. Once open, click on the Atom icon.

Explore the Build an Atom simulation for a few minutes.

What particles go in the center of the atom?

p+ = _ Name of Element: _

n0 = _ Element Symbol: _

p+ =_ Name of Element:_

n0 =_ Element Symbol: _

p+ = _ Name of Element: _

n0 = _ Element Symbol: _

p+ = _ Name of Element: _

n0 = _ Element Symbol: _

Play until you discover some good rules about the charge of your atom.

What makes the charge of the atom go up (become more positive)?

<There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the charge of your atom.

What makes the charge of the atom go down (become more negative)? Pick two.

<There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the charge of your atom.

To make sure an atom is neutral (doesn’t have a charge), you need to have the exact same number of which two subatomic particles.

<There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the mass of your atom.

What makes the mass of the atom go up?
<Hint: add electrons, protons, and neutrons to see which effects the mass>
<There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the mass of your atom.

What makes the mass of the atom go down?
<Hint: remove electrons, protons, and neutrons to see which effects the mass>
<There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the mass of your atom.

Which particle seems to have no effect on the mass of an atom?

Go to Build an Atom Simulation then click the play button. Once open, click on the Atom icon.

Explore the Build an Atom simulation for a few minutes.

What particles go in the center of the atom?

p+ = _ Name of Element: _

n0 = _ Element Symbol: _

p+ =_ Name of Element:_

n0 =_ Element Symbol: _

p+ = _ Name of Element: _

n0 = _ Element Symbol: _

p+ = _ Name of Element: _

n0 = _ Element Symbol: _

Play until you discover some good rules about the charge of your atom.

What makes the charge of the atom go up (become more positive)?

<There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the charge of your atom.

What makes the charge of the atom go down (become more negative)? Pick two.

<There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the charge of your atom.

To make sure an atom is neutral (doesn’t have a charge), you need to have the exact same number of which two subatomic particles.

<There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the mass of your atom.

What makes the mass of the atom go up?
<Hint: add electrons, protons, and neutrons to see which effects the mass>
<There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the mass of your atom.

What makes the mass of the atom go down?
<Hint: remove electrons, protons, and neutrons to see which effects the mass>
<There are two answers>

Play until you discover some good rules about the mass of your atom.

Which particle seems to have no effect on the mass of an atom?