Foundations of Physical Science

Workshop: The Atom

The Atom – Atom Building Game

CPO Science

Key Questions

What are atoms and how are they put together?

What does atomic structure have to do with the periodic table?

Subatomic ParticlesWhat three basic particles

make up all atoms?

Subatomic Particles

Protons

Neutrons

Electrons

Subatomic ParticlesThe marbles represent

these particles. Can you guess which marble represents which particle?

Subatomic ParticlesNow see if you can

determine which are protons and which are neutrons:

Several groups build an atom with: 7 blues, 6 reds, 6 yellows

Others build an atom with: 15 yellows, 16 blues, 15 reds

Others build an atom with 8 yellows, 8 reds, and 9 blues

Building AtomsSeveral groups build an atom with: 7 blues, 6 reds, 6 yellows

Others build an atom with: 15 yellows, 16 blues, 15 reds

Others build an atom with 8 yellows, 8 reds, and 9 blues

4 players or teams per board

Each player starts with 6 blues, 5 reds, and 5 yellows in their board pocket.

Each player takes turns adding marbles to the atom (up to 5 per turn) to make real, stable atoms.

The first player to lose all their marbles wins!!!

The game of Atomic Challenge

4 players or teams per board

Each player starts with 6 blues, 5 reds, and 5 yellows in their board pocket.

Each player takes turns adding marbles to the atom (up to 5 per turn) to make real, stable atoms.

The first player to lose all their marbles wins!!!

Atom Building Reminders

Each player starts with 7 blues, 7 reds, and 7 yellowsand 7 yellows in the board pocket.

Building Atoms using Nuclear Particle Cards

Each player starts with 7 blues, 7 reds, and 7 yellows in the board pocket.

4 players or teams per board

Shuffle cards and deal 5 per player

On each turn, play a card and add or take particles as the card instructs

On some turns you will score points; on other turns you will not (you may be blocking an opponent)

Scoring Points: If your move…

Creates or leaves a stable nucleus, you score 1 point

Creates or leaves a neutral atom, you score 1 point

Creates a perfect, neutral atom with a stable nucleus, you score 3 points

First person to 15 points wins!

Light and the Atom

Atoms absorb and then emit energy with their electrons

When the energy emitted falls within the visible spectrum we see it as light

Laser LightAn Acronym - Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

Monochromatic

In-Phase

Coherent

Many Uses

The game of Photons & Lasers Teaches players about how light is

absorbed and emitted from atoms

The objective of the game is to score points by stimulating excited electrons to lase, emitting photons of light

Players play pump cards to excite the atom by moving electrons up energy levels

Players score points by playing laser cards and moving electrons back down energy levels

Setting Up Photons & Lasers To begin, the atom should be set up for a

specific element

Neon 20 is a good choice with 10 each of protons, neutrons, and electrons

The electrons should all start in the lowest possible levels – the ground state

Each player is dealt 5 cards from the shuffled deck of Photon & Lasers cards

Play consists of moving electrons up and down energy levels, the nucleus remains unchanged.

Pump Cards Pump cards represent photons of

light absorbed by the atom

An absorbed photon raises a single electron the number of energy levels corresponding to the energy (color) of the photon shown on the card

No points are scored with pump cards, but the atom is raised to an excited state which can later be used to earn points by playing laser cards.

Laser Cards Laser cards represent the emission

of light from the atom, matching the energy (color) of the stimulating photon

Playing a laser card allows the player to move as many electrons as possible down the number of energy levels specified on the card

When electrons move down energy levels points are scored!

Playing Photons & Lasers Players take turns playing one

card per turn and moving electrons up and down energy levels as instructed on the card played

Each player draws a new card from the deck after each play to maintain a five card hand

If necessary the played cards can be re-shuffled and re-used

Scoring Points In any given turn electrons may be moved from

one level only and only to unfilled states in the appropriate lower level

The total number of electrons moved down (lased) multiplied by the number of energy levels indicated on the laser card equals the points for that turn

1 electron moved 2 levels = 1 x 2 = 2 points

3 electrons moved 2 levels = 3 x 2 = 6 points

4 electrons moved 3 levels = 4 x 3 = 12 points