Conceptual Physics: Particles and Interactions and the Standard Model Units
The Standard Model summarizes the current knowledge in Particle Physics. It is the quantum theory that includes the theory of strong interactions (quantum chromodynamics or QCD) and the unified theory of weak and electromagnetic interactions (electroweak). Gravity is included on this chart because it is one of the fundamental interactions even though not part of the "Standard Model."
Matter and Interactions (25)
Lesson Plans:
This lesson, created by a PhET "Gold Star" winner, accompanies the simulation Build An Atom. Teachers will find a complete lesson plan, printable student guide, pre-lab and post-lab assessments. Learners will create models of stable and unstable atoms, identify elements and their position on the periodic table, and determine if a model depicts a neutral atom or an isotope.
Level: Grades 6-12
Duration: 90 Minutes
This lesson plan with student guide was created by a high school teacher to accompany the PhET simulation States of Matter. It's intended for students who already have some knowledge of basic kinetic molecular theory. It provides guided exploration of particle behavior as it relates to phase, molecular polarity, force interactions at the molecular level.
Level: Grades 11-12
Duration: One Class Period
This page features a classroom demonstration that illustrates the Law of Conservation of Mass: no matter how substances within a closed system interact with one another, the total mass of the system remains the same. In this demo, steel wool is placed in a flask, covered by a balloon, and the mass is measured before and after the steel wool rusts.
Level: Grades 7-10
This teacher-created lesson plan accompanies the PhET simulation Isotopes and Atomic Mass. The model makes it easy to visualize that atoms of one element always have the same number of protons, but can have various numbers of neutrons. It will help students differentiate atomic number from mass number. The explicit guidance makes it appropriate for middle school and conceptual physics courses.
Level: Grades 7-10
Duration: One Class Period
This lesson was created specifically to accompany the PhET simulation Nuclear Fission, giving guided direction to ensure students stay focused on learning goals. By using this printed guide, students will be prompted to think about what happens in a nuclear reaction, what makes a nucleus "fissionable" and how nuclear power containment vessels prevent a runaway chain reaction. We recommend introducing this simulation after first exploring a related PhET simulation, "Isotopes and Atomic Mass". Beginning learners need a foundation to understand factors that affect stability of an atomic nucleus.
Level: Grades 8-12
Duration: 1-2 Class Periods
Activities:
This animated tutorial does an solid job of helping beginners visualize the structure of an atom. They will explore the atomic nucleus, the electron cloud, ions, and isotopes. It gives students a good foundation to understand how electrons are shared to form molecules. **NOTE: Requires Shockwave to operate. Allow one class period in computer lab.
Level: Grades 8-10
This is a collection of field-tested activities designed to integrate high school biology, chemistry, and physics. Each lesson provides guided explorations through simulations and models, featuring 4 themes: motion and energy, charge, atoms/molecules, and light. The overarching concept that connects all four is that atoms and molecules are the fundamental basis for all interactions.
Level: Grades 9-12
Drag protons, neutrons, and electrons to construct your own atom! As particles are moved into the nucleus or the electron orbits, the simulation automatically displays mass number, atomic symbol, name of element, and net charge. After practicing, try your skill against the clock in a game with four levels of difficulty.
Level: Grades 6-12
Students will have fun constructing simple molecules with this simulation, while also gaining insight about how to read molecular formulas. Click and drag atoms to see which ones bond to form diatomic molecules (composed of a pair of the same element.) Drag different atoms into the field to build a more complex molecule composed of different elements.
Level: Grades 6-12
A scaffolded activity for students to explore atom-building within the framework of a newer orbital model. It opens with an explanation of why the Bohr model is incorrect and provides an analogy for understanding orbitals that is simple enough for grades 8-9. As the activity progresses, students build atoms and ions by adding or removing protons, electrons, and neutrons. Don't miss the "Add An Electron" page to see how electrons align from lower-to-higher energy.
Level: Grades 8-12
What causes molecules to attract each other? In this activity, students manipulate models to see how the strength of attraction is affected by distance from one molecule to another, by heating the substance, and by mixing polar and non-polar substances. Part II of the activity is devoted to hydrogen bonds. Middle school teachers may wish to confine the activity to Parts 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7.
Level: Grades 8-12
This simulation can help students visualize how molecules behave in solids, liquids, and gases. Add or remove heat and watch the motion of the molecules as they change phase. Push the pump and change the volume of matter in the closed container. More advanced students can compare the potential energy graphs for neon, argon, oxygen, and water (which all have different interaction potential).
Level: Grades 6-12
This classroom-tested module features 8 interactive models for exploring atomic arrangements in gases, solids, and liquids. Highlight an atom and view its trajectory to see how motion differs in each of the 3 primary phases. Add heat energy to a system to watch molecular bonds break as molecules overcome their attraction. Editor's Note: This model is a very effective tool for visualizing the intermolecular attractions that underlie a phase change. Highly recommended.
Level: Grades 8-12
Students will interact with six models to investigate what a gas, liquid, and solid look like at the atomic level. View a gas or liquid made of atoms only, a gas composed of diatomic molecules, a liquid made of triatomic molecules, or two types of solids.
Level: Grades 8-12
This web page outlines a student activity on atoms and the periodic table. The assignment includes instructions about how to write a children's book for 3rd and 4th graders on the topic of the elements from the cover to the end of the book. It is a performance-based activity designed to promote critical thinking about atomic and molecular structures as students characterize and model the structures in a storybook format. Grading rubrics are also included.
Level: Grades 6-12
This activity is an online "hangman" game with clues about properties of matter.
Level: Grades 7-10
Fire a virtual neutron gun and induce fission in a radioactive Uranium 235 nucleus. Watch the nucleus split into two daughter nuclei, then start a chain reaction by using multiple U-235 nuclei.....or prevent one by introducing non-radioactive isotopes. Switch the tab to "Nuclear Reactor" and adjust control rods to manage the reaction. Yep, it's fun. And also educational! Editor's Note: We highly recommend the PhET Student Guide that accompanies this simulation to keep your students focused on learning goals. Find it under Lesson Plans above.
Level: Grades 8-12
References and Collections:
Here you will find a collection of 15 animation-based tutorials that support topics covered in introductory chemistry and physical science. The tutorials are highly engaging, yet not so directive that they inhibit critical thinking. All activities are appropriate for high school physics or chemistry; about half are easily adapted to the middle school or 9th grade physical science classroom.
Level: Grades 8-12
This is the portal for The Concord Consortium, a nonprofit research and development corporation dedicated to transforming education through technology. Hundreds of interactive resources are available, many of which focus on the molecular basis of common phenomena. Resources include publications on the use of modeling, online learning and assessment, and the impact of mobile computing.
Level: Grades 6-12
A website sponsored by the Chemical Education Digital Library, ChemTeacher offers a unified package of lessons and activities suitable for secondary chemistry and physical science. Materials are organized by topic. Each activity features an interactive task, worksheets/assessments, and extensive background information.
Level: Grades 8-12
Content Support For Teachers:
The LAPTAG plasma laboratory, funded in part by the DOE, is a high-school based project designed to make the study of plasma physics more accessible to secondary students. Click on the first link for the complete, cost-free lab manual. The next link provides detailed lecture notes explaining the processes that occur when charged particles become a plasma.
This collection was developed with the new or crossover teacher in mind. It combines background information, animations, and video to support secondary physical science curriculum. Topics include atoms & molecules, chemical reactions, acids & bases, gases, solutions, nuclear chemistry, quantum theory, and more.
Student Tutorials:
This is a well-designed set of tutorials to give students a good general overview of nuclear science, from nuclear structure to radioactivity and half-life. Check out the activity on how to build a cosmic ray detector, complete with detailed lab manual.
Level: Grades 9-12
This resource explores a useful model for the structure of matter, designed to help novice learners visualize the structure of solids, liquids, and gases as matter composed of tiny particles in constant motion. The pacing of this animated tutorial allows it to be adaptable for middle school and high school.
Level: Grades 7-12
Duration: One Class Period
This attractive 45-page Power Point presentation uses atomic models to help students visualize that matter is composed of tiny particles in constant motion. It explores subatomic particles, explains how the periodic table is organized, and concludes with a brief presentation on ions and isotopes. Can be embedded into your own classroom lectures/presentations, and is easily adaptable for middle or high school.
Level: Grades 6-12
Duration: One Class Period
The Standard Model (12)
Lesson Plans:
A comprehensive set of resources for teaching a unit on antimatter. The module incorporates liberal use of analogy to help students find a context for understanding this topic. You'll find 8 lessons in the format of Power Point presentations that blend humor with zany analogies. Background information has themes such as, "Will You Be Charging That?", to help kids understand the electric charge theory of antimatter.
Level: High School Physics
At laboratories around the world, physicists convert energy into mass almost as commonly as students send text messages. Still, this revolutionary process is often ignored in the classroom because it seems difficult to convey in a hands-on way. This teaching unit, created by teachers with support from leading physicists, provides the means to bring these concepts of special relativity to high school classrooms.
Level: 11-12
Want to give your students hands-on experiences in modern physics topics? Here is a set of 6 investigations that use data analysis as the framework for the study. Investigations appropriate for high school include: Searching for the Top Quark Mass, Special Relativity, Cosmic Ray e-Lab, and Search for Higgs. Investigations for both middle school and high school include: Sloan Sky Server Projects and Simply Prairie. All data is freely accessible, with explicit instructions provided. Package includes student activity pages & an online homepage for learners.
Level: Grades 6-12
Activities:
This tutorial introduces students to the basic structure of matter, including elements, molecules, and atoms. Animations help beginning learners visualize atomic/molecular structure and build a foundation to understand electron sharing. Editor's Note: The Shockwave tutorial takes one class period; the accompanying labs are optional.
Level: Grades 8-10
In terms of matter, what is a fundamental particle? This award-winning website aimed at high school students introduces the theory of fundamental particles and forces, called the Standard Model. It includes a tutorial on accelerators and particle detectors and also explores recent experimental evidence that promises to extend the theory even further.
Level: Grades 9-12
Drag protons, neutrons, and electrons to construct your own atom! As particles are moved into the nucleus or the electron orbits, the simulation automatically displays mass number, atomic symbol, name of element, and net charge. After practicing, try your skill against the clock in a game with four levels of difficulty.
Level: Grades 6-12
A scaffolded activity for students to explore atom-building within the framework of the Standard Model. It opens with an explanation of why the Bohr model is incorrect and provides an analogy for understanding orbitals that is simple enough for grades 8-9. As the activity progresses, students build atoms and ions by adding or removing protons, electrons, and neutrons. Don't miss the "Add An Electron" page to see how electrons align from lower-to-higher energy.
Level: Grades 8-12
Modeling phenomena at the atomic level gives students a firmer understanding of why atoms form bonds in predictable ways: by transferring or sharing electrons. This interactive model presents the Standard Model of an atom -- a nucleus consisting of protons & neutrons, with electrons surrounding it in regions of high probability called orbitals. Kids will have fun as they explore electron configuration.
Level: Grades 9-12
Duration: One Class Period
References and Collections:
Fermilab is a national science laboratory and the home of the Tevatron, the world's second-largest particle accelerator. Through this portal, users can learn about Fermilab's experiments, research, projects, and publications. The lab also sponsors an extensive set of web-based resources for K-12 educators. Editor's Note: The Tevatron accelerator was shut down in 2011 due to funding shortages. The website is still up and accessible.
Level: Grades 6-12
Content Support For Teachers:
This is a very high-quality free course on topics in modern physics, developed by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center. Its goal is to get teachers and learners excited about important unanswered questions that are being investigated right now in contemporary physics. The course has 3 components: Textbook, video clips, and web-based modules. Teachers can use the course for their own development or supplement high school physics classes with the interactive modules and videos.
This textbook was developed by an author who believes "physics is the science with the worst textbooks". He intends Motion Mountain to be a simple, captivating, and up-to-date introduction to modern physics. The concept of motion is the guiding framework for this textbook, with speed, force, and charge being central to the presentation. The book was written for self-study.
Student Tutorials:
This tutorial collection was designed to help high school students build an understanding of matter at its most fundamental: subatomic particles. Explore the Standard Model, weak and strong nuclear interaction, collision types, muon detection, and more.
Level: Grades 9-12
History and Discovery (5)
Activities:
Radioactive decay happens when an atomic nucleus of an unstable atom loses energy by emitting ionizing radiation. This resource simulates alpha decay, in which the nucleus emits an alpha particle. It's much simpler to understand than beta decay, and a good place for beginners to start. Don't miss the Bucket o' Polonium activity, which will help kids understand half-life. Note: If kids want to know, "Why are we studying this?", it's interesting to note that thorium-powered concept cars feature a nuclear reactor that uses alpha decay. In theory, 8 grams of thorium could power a car for one million miles with zero emissions.
Level: Grades 6-12
References and Collections:
This classroom-tested learning module gives a condensed, easily-understood view of the development of atomic theory from the late 19th through early 20th century. The key idea was the discovery that the atom is not an "indivisible" particle, but consists of smaller constituents: the proton, neutron, and electron. It discusses the contributions of John Dalton, J.J. Thomson, Ernest Rutherford, and James Chadwick, whose experiments revolutionized the world view of atomic structure.
This is the second part of a classroom-tested learning module on the development of atomic theory. It focuses on the discovery of ions, isotopes, and electron shells. The key idea is that, while the number of protons in an atom remains constant, the number of electrons and neutrons can vary. It includes simple simulations of a hydrogen ion, a hydrogen isotope, energy levels in an "electron shell" model of the atom, and more.
The online collection provides topical exhibits, visual archives, oral history interviews, a listing of books and other publications, and example syllabi for history of science courses. All of these resources are available for use in classes where appropriate. The Center is recognized world-wide for the quality its resources.
Level: Grades K-12
We highly recommend this resource to help students grasp the hardships and obstacles often faced by pioneering scientists, especially women and minorities. The segment on Pierre Curie's death is a tear-jerker, but will generate plenty of respect for Curie's tenacity. For a simulation on the same topic, see link in Activities above to PhET's Alpha Decay, which contains a very good accompanying lesson plan for high school teachers.
Level: Grades 8-12
Teaching Nanoscale Science (10)
Lesson Plans:
Want to give your students hands-on experiences in modern physics topics? Here is a set of 6 investigations that use data analysis as the framework for the study. Investigations appropriate for high school include: Searching for the Top Quark Mass, Special Relativity, Cosmic Ray e-Lab, and Search for Higgs. Investigations for both middle school and high school include: Sloan Sky Server Projects and Simply Prairie. All data is freely accessible, with explicit instructions provided. Package includes student activity pages & an online homepage for learners.
Level: Grades 6-12
This curricular unit aims to model the process scientists use when confronted with new phenomena. It's a multimedia introduction to nanoscience, the study of special phenomena that occur when objects are of a size between 1 and 100 nanometers. You'll find activities for exploring scale and unusual properties at the nanoscale, lessons about the tools of nanotechnology such as the scanning probe microscope, and example applications. Supplementary materials include a classroom play about a not-too-futuristic world where every aspect of daily life is influenced by nanotechnology.
Level: Grades 9-12
Duration: 2-10 Class Periods
Activities:
This is a collection of field-tested activities designed to integrate high school biology, chemistry, and physics. Each lesson provides guided explorations through simulations and models, featuring 4 themes: motion and energy, charge, atoms/molecules, and light. The overarching concept that connects all four is that atoms and molecules are the fundamental basis for all interactions.
Level: Grades 9-12
The NSF-sponsored NanoSense project was created to address the question of how to teach nanoscale science at the secondary level. Includes four comprehensive curriculum units to introduce teachers and students to nanotechnology. Each unit has been classroom tested and provides extensive content support -- all designed to be adaptable for short introductions or longer classroom projects.
Level: Grades 8-12
This 5-minute video adapted from NOVA scienceNOW explores the potential of carbon nanotubes, whose strength and unique properties make them useful for a variety of applications. See animations of how carbon atoms bond to one another in different ways to make diamond, graphite, buckyballs, and nanotubes. Consider how a seemingly impossible application, such as an elevator from the surface of Earth to space, is now theoretically possible.
Level: Grades 6-12
In this classroom activity for grades 7-9, students use white marshmallows for protons and colored marshmallows for neutrons to construct atomic nuclei. The web site provides a student worksheet, but the idea could work for other atomic configurations. The activity can be adapted from very simple atomic models (stable atoms) to more complex isotopes.
Level: Grades 7-9
Duration: 30-45 minutes
Just how small IS the "nanoscale"? The challenge in this activity is: cut a piece of paper in half as many times as you can until you reach 10 nanometers wide. Students first predict how many times they will have to cut the paper, then they start cutting. They may do actual measuring or use a calculator. Editor's Note: Of course, no one will be able to cut the paper this small. Expect students to gain appreciation of just how small 10 nanometers is.
Level: Grades 6-10
Duration: One Class Period
References and Collections:
National standards (and many state standards) for middle school now require teaching about interactions at the atomic level. The reason is that students need to be building concepts about nanoscale processes to be prepared for future courses in nanotechnology. This collection, developed by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education project (NISE), gives teachers a blueprint. The trick is to let students model these processes on a macro scale that can be easily comprehended. This wonderful web site offers lessons in size & scale, nano-materials, scanning probe microscopy, carbon nanotubes, and a free digital book on using LEGO's as models for atomic-level interactions. Highly recommended by the editors.
Level: Grades 6-12
This is the portal for The Concord Consortium, a nonprofit research and development corporation dedicated to transforming education through technology. Hundreds of interactive resources are available, many of which focus on the molecular basis of common phenomena. Resources include publications on the use of modeling, online learning, and assessment.
Level: Grades 6-12
This is a very high-quality free course on topics in modern physics, developed by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center. Its goal is to get teachers and learners excited about important unanswered questions that are being investigated right now in contemporary physics. The course has 3 components: Textbook, video clips, and web-based modules. Teachers can use the course for their own development or supplement high school physics classes with the interactive modules and videos.
Properties of Matter (10)
Lesson Plans:
Density is a derived quantity -- we measure two other quantities (mass and volume) and then calculate density. to help first-time learners understand this connection, we recommend this set of nine classroom labs. Students will measure and weigh solid blocks & liquids, and gain practice in using the graduated cylinder. They also weigh a sample of air and measure the average density of a student!
Level: Grades 6-12
This attractive 45-page Power Point presentation uses atomic models to help students visualize that matter is composed of tiny particles in constant motion. It explores subatomic particles, explains how the periodic table is organized, and concludes with a brief presentation on ions and isotopes. Can be embedded into your own classroom lectures/presentations, and is easily adaptable for middle or high school.
Level: Grades 6-12
Duration: One Class Period
Activities:
Here are 3 interactive labs designed to promote inquiry in an entertaining, yet mentally challenging format. Lab 1 investigates the effect of volume changes on the pressure of a confined gas at constant temperature. Lab 2 explores the effect of temperature changes on a confined gas held at constant volume. Lab 3 investigates the relationship between volume and temperature. Detailed lesson plans with objectives and assessment ideas are included.
Level: Grades 7-10
This classroom-tested module features 8 interactive models for exploring atomic arrangements in gases, solids, and liquids. Highlight an atom and view its trajectory to see how motion differs in each of the 3 primary phases. Add heat energy to a system to watch molecular bonds break as molecules overcome their attraction. Editor's Note: This model is a very effective tool for visualizing the intermolecular attractions that underlie a phase change. Highly recommended.
Level: Grades 8-12
Duration: 1-2 Class Periods
Explore how molecular changes determine physical characteristics of materials. Module opens with a short video clip that introduces atomic arrangement of solids. A second video discusses the structural changes to a water molecule that occur during phase change. Students then investigate differences among carbon forms through digital images of graphite and diamond structures. For gifted/talented learners, try the extension activity on buckyballs.
Level: Grades 8-12
Duration: One Class Period
This interactive activity from NOVA describes the crystalline structure of metal and uses animations to illustrate the molecular changes that occur when a metallic substance is bent, heated, or otherwise changed by external forces. It also explores the three main types of bonds that bind atoms together: metallic, ionic, and covalent.
Level: Grades 6-12
References and Collections:
This interactive periodic table is one of the web's most extensive reference resources on the elements and their properties. Click on any element in the table to see a spectrum of information, including electron configuration, atomic and nuclear properties, and a brief history of each element.
Level: Grades 6-12
This interactive periodic table merges science and art to explore the elements in a visually striking way. The table is arranged in the traditional format, but each element is represented by a photograph or illustration relating to its origin or use. With a click, users can view extensive data and brief histories of 103 elements. Embedded animations for common elements complete the package.
Level: Grades 6-12
Student Tutorials:
This resource explores a useful model for the structure of matter, designed to help novice learners visualize the structure of solids, liquids, and gases as matter composed of tiny particles in constant motion. The pacing of this animated tutorial allows it to be adaptable for middle school and high school.
Level: Grades 7-12
Duration: One Class Period
This interactive animation explores models for the structure of water in three states: liquid, solid, and gas. It can be useful within a unit on preparatory chemistry or as a means to help students visualize what happens at the molecular level when matter changes state. The animations are designed to help students understand how temperature and the mutual attraction between molecules combined to determine the state.
Level: Grades 8-12
Duration: One Class Period
Elements and the Periodic Table (6)
Activities:
Interactively explore how the elements come together to produce the complex diversity of materials that make up the substances in our world. Click on "Human Body" to see which elements are most abundant in our bodies; click "Pyrotechnics" to see how experts combine certain elements to create fireworks; and learn which elements have the most extreme properties on the periodic table.
Level: Grades 5-10
Give your students a taste of atomic/molecular structure by exploring four elements: oxygen, neon, bromine.....chosen because they represent four very different structures -- a noble gas (neon), diatomic gas molecule (oxygen), diatomic liquid molecule (bromine), and diatomic solid molecule (iodine). Each element is represented in illustrations and animations that model the molecular motion.
Level: Grades 7-12
References and Collections:
This interactive periodic table is one of the web's most extensive reference resources on the elements and their properties. Click on any element in the table to see a spectrum of information, including electron configuration, atomic and nuclear properties, and a brief history of each element.
Level: Grades 6-12
There are lots of interactive Periodic Tables on the web. This one is exemplary because it provides an easy-to-read tutorial with simulations placed at just the right points for students to immediately apply what they learned. It is simple enough for novice learners, but challenging enough to work a student's brain.
Level: Grades 6-12
This resource has the added feature of displaying elements in tabs at the top of the web page. It is quite easy for learners to compare various elements without toggling among different windows or browser tabs. Click on any element to view physical properties, atomic structure, background information, and images. Selected elements feature videos that show reactions among common elements.
Level: Grades 6-12
This interactive periodic table merges science and art to explore the elements in a unique and visually striking way. It's arranged in the traditional format, but each element is represented by a photograph or illustration relating to its origin or use. With a click, users can view extensive data and brief histories of 103 elements. Animations have also been embedded for some of the more common elements
Level: Grades 6-12
Molecular Structures and Bonding (18)
Lesson Plans:
Covalent bonding occurs when electrons are shared between atoms; ionic bonding occurs when electrons are transferred between atoms. The processes are quite different. This multimedia lesson effectively provides a means for students to visualize the attractions between atoms that result in covalent bonds. Includes simulations and a hands-on lab. It was developed for middle school, but could be well adapted for preparatory chemistry or physics.
Level: Grades 7-10
Duration: 1-2 Class Periods
This multimedia lesson features 6 animations, one video, and a hands-on lab to explore what happens when positive and negative ions attract each other and form a bond. It allows students to visualize ionic bonding and the underlying atomic processes that occur. Developed for middle school, but could be well-adapted for preparatory chemistry or physics.
Level: Grades 7-8
Duration: 1-2 Class Periods
This teacher-created lesson plan accompanies the PhET simulation Isotopes and Atomic Mass. The model makes it easy to visualize that atoms of one element always have the same number of protons, but can have various numbers of neutrons. It will help students differentiate atomic number from mass number. The explicit guidance makes it appropriate for middle school and conceptual physics courses.
Level: Grades 7-10
Duration: One Class Period
This lesson was created specifically to accompany the PhET simulation Nuclear Fission, giving guided direction to ensure students stay focused on learning goals. By using this printed guide, students will be prompted to think about what happens in a nuclear reaction, what makes a nucleus "fissionable" and how nuclear power containment vessels prevent a runaway chain reaction. We recommend introducing this simulation after first exploring a related PhET simulation, "Isotopes and Atomic Mass". Beginning learners need a foundation to understand factors that affect stability of an atomic nucleus.
Level: Grades 8-12
Activities:
Students will have fun constructing simple molecules with this simulation, while also gaining insight about how to read molecular formulas. Click and drag atoms to see which ones bond to form diatomic molecules (composed of a pair of the same element.) Drag different atoms into the field to build a more complex molecule composed of different elements.
Level: Grades 6-12
This simulation promotes understanding of isotopes by providing a simple way to model isotopes of the first 10 elements in the Periodic Table. In the most basic model, users click on an atomic symbol. The simulation displays a stable isotope for that atom. (For example, choose Helium and view a nucleus with two protons and two neutrons.) Now, drag neutrons into the nucleus and watch to see if the atom becomes unstable.
Level: Grades 6-12
Fire a virtual neutron gun and induce fission in a radioactive Uranium 235 nucleus. Watch the nucleus split into two daughter nuclei, then start a chain reaction by using multiple U-235 nuclei.....or prevent one by introducing non-radioactive isotopes. Switch the tab to "Nuclear Reactor" and adjust control rods to manage the reaction. Yep, it's fun. And also educational! Editor's Note: We highly recommend the PhET Student Guide that accompanies this simulation to keep your students focused on learning goals. Find it under Lesson Plans above.
Level: Grades 8-12
This web-based tutorial explores ionic bonding -- a chemical bond formed between two ions with opposite charge. Learners investigate how the transfer of electrons between atoms creates ions and how the mutual attraction of these charged particles forms ionic bonds. It also discusses trends in the periodic table to help learners comprehend how the structure of an ionic compound relates to its formula.
Level: Grades 8-12
How do attractive and repulsive forces act on atomic particles and influence the sharing of electrons? This interactive Flash tutorial helps students visualize what is happening in the covalent bonding process. They will view two hydrogen atoms interact to create a covalent bond, learn about patterns in the periodic table, and explore how electrostatic potential energy affects bonding.
Level: Grades 8-12
The game-like nature of this simulation gives students practice with chemical equations, but goes much deeper. By viewing the distribution of individual atoms in real-time alongside the chemical equation, the learner is building a basis to understand conservation of matter and chemical interactions. Teachers of middle school and Physics First -- look above under Lesson Plans for an excellent teacher-created lesson to go with this simulation.
Level: Grades 7-12
Radioactive decay happens when an atomic nucleus of an unstable atom loses energy by emitting ionizing radiation. This resource simulates alpha decay, in which the nucleus emits an alpha particle. It's much simpler to understand than beta decay, and a good place for beginners to start. Don't miss the Bucket o' Polonium activity, which will help kids understand half-life. Note: If kids want to know, "Why are we studying this?", it's interesting to note that thorium-powered concept cars feature a nuclear reactor that uses alpha decay. In theory, 8 grams of thorium could power a car for one million miles with zero emissions.
Level: Grades 7-12
This interactive game challenges learners to create eight virtual compounds by combining individual ions. Each challenge poses a task. Task #1 asks students to make sodium chloride by clicking and dragging the correct cation and anion to the workspace. Task #2 is to make a sodium oxide compound; Task #3 -- create sodium hydroxide. If an incorrect ion is chosen, the game provides immediate feedback.
Level: Grades 7-10
Modeling phenomena at the atomic level gives students a firmer understanding of why atoms form bonds in predictable ways: by transferring or sharing electrons. This interactive model presents the Standard Model of an atom -- a nucleus consisting of protons & neutrons, with electrons surrounding it in regions of high probability called orbitals. Kids will have fun as they explore electron configuration.
Level: Grades 8-12
Duration: One Class Period
Content Support For Teachers:
Produced by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, this resource gives a good general overview of nuclear science. Through descriptions and illustrations, students explore nuclear structure; radioactivity; alpha, beta, and gamma decay; half-life; reactions; fusion; fission; cosmic rays; and antimatter. Included is a comprehensive activity on how to build a cosmic ray detector with detailed lab manual and procedurals, plus nine shorter experiments on topics related to nuclear science.
Level: Grades 6-12
Looking for content support in nuclear processes, or want to supplement your students' textbook? This is a chapter from a cost-free digital textbook, developed for non-scientists. This chapter deals with the atomic nucleus and radiation, nuclear energy, and uses of radioactive substances. It builds a foundation to understand the physical forces in the nucleus (electrostatic force and strong force), and explains how chemical reactions differ from nuclear reactions. Graphs and diagrams depict what happens in radioactive decay. The section on chemical nuclear equations is straightforward and comprehensible for non-scientists.
Level: Grades 8-12
Student Tutorials:
Designed for physical science courses, this interactive module explores factors that cause atoms to form or break bonds with each other. It's sequenced so that middle school students can tackle the concepts, but can also be adapted as a short exercise for high school.
Level: Grades 8-12
In this interactive activity, students explore different types of chemical bonds by first viewing a single hydrogen atom in an electric field model. Next, students use sliders to change the electronegativity between two atoms -- a model to help them understand why some atoms are attracted. Finally, students experiment in making their own models: non-polar covalent, polar covalent, and ionic bonds.
Level: Grades 9-12
Modeling phenomena at the atomic level gives students a firmer understanding of why atoms form bonds in predictable ways: by transferring or sharing electrons. This interactive model presents the Standard Model of an atom -- a nucleus consisting of protons & neutrons, with electrons surrounding it in regions of high probability called orbitals. Kids will have fun as they explore electron configuration.
Level: Grades 8-12
Duration: One Class Period
Nuclear Processes (4)
Lesson Plans:
This lesson, created by a PhET "Gold Star" winner, accompanies the simulation Build An Atom. Teachers will find a complete lesson plan, printable student guide, pre-lab and post-lab assessments. Learners will create models of stable and unstable atoms, identify elements and their position on the periodic table, and determine if a model depicts a neutral atom or an isotope.
Level: Grades 6-12
Duration: 1-2 Class Periods
This teacher-created lesson plan accompanies the PhET simulation Isotopes and Atomic Mass. The model makes it easy to visualize that atoms of one element always have the same number of protons, but can have various numbers of neutrons. It will help students differentiate atomic number from mass number. The explicit guidance makes it appropriate for middle school and conceptual physics courses.
Level: Grades 7-10
Duration: 50 minutes
This lesson was created specifically to accompany the PhET simulation Nuclear Fission, giving guided direction to ensure students stay focused on learning goals. By using this printed guide, students will be prompted to think about what happens in a nuclear reaction, what makes a nucleus "fissionable" and how nuclear power containment vessels prevent a runaway chain reaction. We recommend introducing this simulation after first exploring a related PhET simulation, "Isotopes and Atomic Mass". Beginning learners need a foundation to understand factors that affect stability of an atomic nucleus.
Level: Grades 7-12
Duration: 1-2 Class Periods
Activities:
Great activity to help students understand the random nature of radioactive decay, designed to accompany the PhET simulation "Alpha Decay". Watch an alpha particle eject from the nucleus, then see the "parent" decay into an atom with a mass number of 4 less than the original. Reset the nucleus to see the randomness. Next, switch the view to "Multiple Atoms" and watch a pattern of decay for 100 virtual polonium 211 atoms. Even though the decay rate of an individual atom is not predictable, learners can clearly see the trend that half the atoms will decay by the designated half-life.
Level: Grades 8-12
Duration: One Class Period
Microscopy: Observing at the Nanoscale (5)
Activities:
Just what is a scanning probe microscope, and how does it use a tiny physical probe to "see" nanoscale specimens? This animated tutorial is a great way to explore the basics of SPM, which has become a very important tool for imaging samples as small as 10 nanometers.
Level: Grades 8-12
Duration: One Class Period
This animated tutorial illustrates the basics of SEM, scanning electron microscopy. View the internal & external components of the microscope, then explore how it uses electron emission and capture to create an image. Finally, watch as the animation shows how the digital signal is converted into grayscale pixels on a computer screen.
Level: Grades 7-12
Duration: One Class Period
Interactively explore various specimens as they appear under a scanning electron microscope. SEM can produce very high-resolution photos of details as small as 1-5 nanometers. Students can adjust the focus, brightness, and contrast, and choose from a cockroach, pollen grain, diatom, a gecko foot, a jellyfish, and more. Each successive image doubles the magnitude of the magnification.
Level: Grades 4-12
References and Collections:
This project, part of NASA's Virtual Laboratory initiative, makes free scientific instrumentation data available to students and teachers worldwide. The site supports and shares data from 3 instruments: a scanning electron microscope, a fluorescence light microscope, and an atomic force microscope. It's shared via software that provides a simulation of the group's actual microscope interfaces. The controls allow you to explore any point of interest on the sample at your own work station, plus provides robust annotation tools for keeping your own records of specimen data.
Level: Grades 6-12
Student Tutorials:
What is microscopy and what sort of careers are available to a microscopist? This web page features animated tutorials that illustrate the basics of the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and the Scanning Probe Microscope (SPM). It includes interviews with practicing scientists from a wide variety of fields, who talk about career paths that utilize microscopy.
Level: Grades 8-12
