Self Assembly Activity
Name_______________
Block ______
Standard Biological, chemical and physical properties of matter result from the ability of atoms
to form bonds from electrostatic forces between electrons and protons and between atoms and
molecules.
Essential Question- What controls how atoms and molecules arrange themselves in nature?
Prediction
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Activity Part 1
Below is a set of questions to answer using the Self assembly activity link on my website or
http://nanosense.org/activities/sizematters/introduction/SM_IntroSlides.ppt
1. What is the range of the “nanoscale”? ___________________________________________
2. Give 2 examples to demonstrate the size of a nanometer.
a. _______________________________________________________________________
b. _______________________________________________________________________
3. Name one of the new microscopes that scientists have used to view objects at the nanoscale
and explain how that microscope allows you to view objects.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
4. Describe 1 material we can make at the nanoscale.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
5. What is self assembly?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
6. Why is the nanoscale “special” ?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
1
Data
Part 1 Penny Data
Initials
Number of
Pennies
Rectangular 1
Rectangular 2
Circle
Part 2 Floating Magnets Data
Structure Pictures OR Descriptions
Round Pan 8 round
magnets
Round Pan 16 round
magnets
Round Pan 24 round
magnets
Rectangular Pan 8 round
magnets
Rectangular Pan 16 round
magnets
Rectangular Pan 24 round
magnets
Rectangular Pan 24 round
magnets and change
shape of container
Rectangular Pan 24 round
magnets- some flipped
over
2
Play time
Rectangular Pan 8
square magnets
Rectangular Pan 16
square magnets
Rectangular Pan 24
square magnets
Rectangular Pan 24
square magnets, some
flipped over
Rectangular Pan 24
rectangular magnets, play
time
Data Analysis Questions
1. What patterns did you see in general?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. What factors affected the structures that were formed?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. Explain what type of forces (attractive, repulsive, or both) determined the structure?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
4. Explain how the size of the container changes the packing structure (think about the rectangular
container when you changed the size)?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
5. How does flipping the magnets, i.e. poles, affect the overall structure?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________ __________
3
Activity Part 3
After viewing the video “Making Stuff Stronger” and teacher presentation answer the following:
6. Complete the table below. Rate relative properties with 1-3, one being the greatest.
Steel
Kevlar
Carbon Nanotubes
Atom arrangement
Products Made of it
Relative
Weight/thickness
Relative tensile
strength (ability to
resist pulling forces)
Relative Toughness
Relative Flexibility
7. What determines the properties of each of the materials above?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
8. What controls how atoms and molecules arrange themselves (self assemble) in nature?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
9. Describe a biological example of self assembly.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
10. Predict how nanoscience or nanotechnology might affect your life in the future.
Prediction 1:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Prediction 2:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
4
Activity Part 2
Materials
24 magnet pieces (round and square), 1 round and 1 rectangular pan, water, 50 pennies, 2 penny
sheets,
Procedure
Part 1- Penny Challenge
1. Working together in your group, place as many pennies, into the circle as possible. Pennies may
not overlap with each other and must be completely within the lines. Record how many pennies fit
into the data table. Repeat with the other 2 squares.
Part 2- Floating magnets
1. Put enough water in the containers to cover the bottom and to allow the magnets to float.
1. Using the round container and 8 magnets, place a single layer of floating magnetic pieces into
water so that the magnetic dipoles are all facing the same direction (i.e. all magnets should face
the ceiling). You might need your partner to hold back some of the magnets as you place new
ones into the crowded pan. Draw the shape into which they self assemble on your data sheet.
Continue adding magnets until you have reached 24 magnets. Record the structures (shapes)
formed every 8 magnets As a warning, it becomes difficult to add the last few magnets. If two
pieces stack vertically, separate them with your hands and return them to the container.
2. Gently blow on the magnets or shake the pan to disrupt the pattern and notice what happens.
3. Remove the magnets from the round pan and repeat step 2 with the rectangular container
(leaving out the moveable barrier in the pan) and only 6 magnets. Record the structures
(shapes) formed every 8 magnets until you reach 24. Do NOT remove the magnets.
4. Please the moveable barrier (glass block) in the pan between the last two rows of magnets. Use
the moveable barrier to change the size of the container. Record what happens to the structure.
5. Flip a few of the pieces over so that all the dipoles are no longer aligned. Record what happens
to the structure.
6. Take a minute to play and explore how you can change the patterns. Record what happens to
the structure. Cleanup. Place magnets back in their original bag, carefully empty water from your
container. Wipe down.
5
Understanding Size and Scale Key
Understanding Size and Scale
Pre Activity Question
1. Circle the largest in each of the following pairs:
ant
compared to
grain of salt
virus
compared to
white blood cell
virus
compared to
DNA molecule
atom
compared to
DNA molecule
Go to the following website. http://www.mcrel.org/nanoleap/multimedia/nanosize_me.swf
Click on “sort meters”.
Test your predictions of the relative size of the objects using the snap back feature- if it is right it will snap into place.
Record the actual order.
Predicted vs. Actual Rankings of Various Objects- Meter Range
Predicted Rankings -largest
(#1)
Actual Ranking
1
2
3
4
Use Table 2 to predict the rankings of the relative size of the following objects- salt, hair , dime, ant - and record in the
table below. Click on “sort millimeters”. Test your predictions of the relative size of the objects using the snap back
feature- if it is right it will snap into place. Record the actual order in the Table 4.
Table 4. Predicted vs. Actual Rankings of Various Objects- Millimeter Range
Predicted Rankings -largest
(#1)
Actual Ranking
1
2
3
4
Use Table 2 to predict the rankings of the relative size of the following objects- hair, virus, white blood cell, bacteria and record in the table below. Click on “sort micrometers”. Test your predictions of the relative size of the objects using
the snap back feature- if it is right it will snap into place. Record the actual order in the Table 5.
Table 5. Predicted vs. Actual Rankings of Various Objects- Micrometer Range
Predicted Rankings -largest
(#1)
Actual Ranking
1
2
3
4
Use Table 2 to predict the rankings of the relative size of the following objects- DNA, protein, virus, transitor, - and
record in the table below. Click on “sort nanometers”. Test your predictions of the relative size of the objects using the
snap back feature- if it is right it will snap into place. Record the actual order in the Table 6.
Table 6. Predicted vs. Actual Rankings of Various Objects- Nanometer Range
Predicted Rankings -largest
(#1)
Actual Ranking
1
2
3
4
Use Table 2 to predict the rankings of the relative size of the following objects- buckyball, nucleus, water, and hydrogen
atom- and record in the table below. Click on “sort picometers”. Test your predictions of the relative size of the objects
using the snap back feature- if it is right it will snap into place. Record the actual order in the Table 7.
Table 7. Predicted vs. Actual Rankings of Various Objects- Picometer Range
Predicted Rankings -largest
(#1)
Actual Ranking
1
2
3
4
1. Which range were you the best at predicting rankings- pico, nano, micro, milli, or meter? Use the tables to cite
evidence that helped you reach this conclusion. (ex. I was correcton 3 of the 4 predictions)
2. Explain why you think you had no trouble with this area.
3. Which range were you the worst at predicting rankings- - pico, nano, micro, milli, or meter? Use the tables to cite
evidence that helped you reach this conclusion. (ex. I missed 3 of the 4 predictions)
4. Explain why you think you had trouble with this area.
5. Now return the “sort all” link and organize the objects by size to complete Table 2, Revised Rankings.
Analysis Questions
2. Circle the largest in each of the following pairs:
ant
compared to
grain of salt
virus
compared to
white blood cell
virus
compared to
DNA molecule
atom
compared to
DNA molecule
3. How do object at the nanometer scale- lets call them nanoparticles- compare with cells in size?
4. How do objects at the nanometer scale compare with atoms in size?
5.
Cut out the objects and
place them in order
from largest to smallest.
Pool
White Blood Cell
DNA (width)
Grain of Salt
Microchip Transitor
Bacteria
HIV Virus
Hydrogen Atom
Carbon Buckyball
Human Hair (width)
Water Molecule
Cut out the objects and
place them in order
from largest to smallest.
Leaning Tower of Pisa
Dime
Ant
Bike Wheel
Nucleus of A Gold Atom
Atom
Physics of Self-Assembly
circular helical
* weak, non-covalent bonds
* water soluble
* biological molecules
“host-guest”
1955, Fraenkel-Conrat & Williams
Tobacco Mosaic Virus: rod-like virus.
one RNA molecule of 6,300 bases +
2,000 identical capsid proteins
RNA
Capsid
1,000 A
infectious TMV virus “self-assembles” from
a solution of capsid proteins + RNA molecules
(Rosalind Franklin)
Spherical Viruses
Herpes Simplex
Common Cold
Polio
CCMV
principles?
Symmetry
Spherical viruses have icosahedral symmetry
 15 two-fold rotation axes
 10 three-fold rotation axes
 6 five-fold rotation axes
Sir Aaron
Klug
Self-Assembly by Detergents
Hydrophilic
lipid
Hydrophobic
“Vesicles”
Micelle
H-phase
Self-assemble nano-machines ?
E.Coli
molecular motors
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Name:Liz Borer
Block:1
Entropy is the randomness in the enviroment. If you throw something in in the air you don't know
where it's going to land and it's unlikely that the things will end up in a pile together. The second law of
Thermodynamics is a spontanious thing that makes order disordered. Self assembly is when things build
themselves in an orderly fashion without the help of the outside world. This gets you off track, because it
assumes we can’t make it happen ourselves, by manipulating the environment. The building of proteins
in the body are a perfect example of self assembly because your body can build them when the proteins are
needed without concious thought. You need attraction as well some repulsion to get certain structures to
form. Self assembly does not manipulate things or really destroy them so it doesn't violate the conservation
laws. That is not why it does not violate conservation laws. When you got structures to form with the foam,
you took randomly organized form, put energy into them (so they would all point correct way), and that
overcame tendency for them to form random structures.) By the way, the energy you used to do this, was
the result of breakdown of food, which added to the randomness of the universe, so you add ed entropy to
the universe to help the structures form. The foam things didn't have a big magnet manipulating their
movement. They only had the small ones insdie the straws which represented the positive and negative
charges. Therefore, self assembly didn't violate the conservation laws in our lab. Definitions 9/9, violation
2/6
11/15.
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Name:Taylor Bufmack
Block: 1
Entropy is the disorder in a system. For example, if you throw a stack of papers in the air. The
papers will not land in an neat stack, they will be in a disordered mess. The second law of thermodynamics
is part of entropy, it is when the quality of matter deteriorates. It is the breakdown of something from order
to disorder and this all happens spontaniously. Self assembly is when things bring themselves together on
their own in nature with out the help of something else. This gets you off track, because it assumes we
can’t make it happen ourselves, by manipulating the environment. An example of this is lipid layers and
proteins.
Self assembly occurs naturally in nature. Since there in not as many factors against it,
then it can create and change itself the way that it is supposed to. The magnet experiment is a perfect
example of self assembly. The foam pieces had tiny magnets inside of them. With out a big magnet that
could munipulate their movement, the foam pieces moved by themselves. This is considered self assembly
because we did not move them ourselves unless we were flipping them to change the positive and negative
charge. That is why it does not violate conservation laws. When you got structures to form with the foam,
you took randomly organized form, put energy into them (so they would all point correct way), and that
overcame tendency for them to form random structures.) By the way, the energy you used to do this, was
the result of breakdown of food, which added to the randomness of the universe, so you added entropy to
the universe to help the structures form. The foam would make paterns and shapes. In one trial, all of the
magnets had positive charges and so they alined but still repelled from each other. In another, the foam
made a pentagonal shape inside a circular shape. All of the foam pieces in this one was positive as well so
they repelled once again. Definitions 9/9, violation 3/6 (confusion on the large magnet piece). 12/15
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Name:Connor Boyd
Block:1
Entropy is the degree of randomness or disorder in a system. The second law of thermodynamics states that
all matter tends to higher entropy over time. Self assembly is the natural arrangement of materials into
ordered structures. Although entropy decreases, this does not violate the laws of thermodynamics because
energy is put into the system to initiate self assembly. The particles repel and attract each other, eventually
forming ordered patterns and structures. When you got structures to form with the foam, you took randomly
organized form, put energy into them (so they would all point correct way), and that overcame tendency for
them to form random structures.) By the way, the energy you used to do this, was the result of
breakdown of food, which added to the randomness of the universe, so you added entropy to the universe
to help the structures form. Definitions 9/9, violation 4/6 (too brief). 13/15.
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Name:David Felix
Block:1
Entropy- disorder in a system
2nd law of thermidynamics- it's like entropy, the matter breaks down from order to disorder.
self assemply- self assemply is things make up itself.
How nature creates self assemply without violating the laws is the structures in the environment attract
eachother and break down. For example in the lab we had all the magnets flipped on postive so they
repulsed eachother so it is not violating any of the laws. Also when a baby is born all the organs are there
its kind of like a pattern in the body. When you got structures to form with the foam, you took randomly
organized form, put energy into them (so they would all point correct way), and that overcame tendency for
them to form random structures.) By the way, the energy you used to do this, was the result of
breakdown of food, which added to the randomness of the universe, so you added entropy to the universe
to help the structures form. Definitions 8/9 (spelling, brief), Violation 2/6, 10/15.
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Name:luca gnos
Block:1
Entropy is the degree of disorder in a system, that means if the order in a system is really bad, the entropy
is high.
the second law of thermodynamics is defined with a unexpected, spontaneous change from order to
disorder.
the definition of self-assembly is that the nature in an unordered system self assembles to order.
you can create self-assembly with the lab we did last class, put + and - magnets in a container with water in
it, and the magnets self-assemble. the magnets in the container build different structures.
An example for self-assembly in the nature are white blood cells in our body. When you got structures to
form with the foam, you took randomly organized form, put energy into them (so they would all point
correct way), and that overcame tendency for them to form random structures.) By the way, the energy
you used to do this, was the result of breakdown of food, which added to the randomness of the universe,
so you added entropy to the universe to help the structures form. Definitions 9/9. Violation, 1/6. No
real mention of energy and violation of 2 nd law. 10/15.
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Erik Gray
Block 1
Entropy is the degree of disorder in a system. The 2nd law of thermodynamics states that there are
spontaneous breakdowns but they are due to adding or subtracting energy from a system. Self-assembley is
what cells and creations do at a molecular level naturaly creating. A disordered system of components form
an ordered structure. like the magnets we put in the containers full of water, the magnets spread out and
made geometric shapes without us touching them. That was self-assembley on a much larger scale.
Creating self-assembley without violating the laws of thermodynamics is actually harder to
accomplish if it is not being done naturally. In nature when we are born our cells naturally order and start to
form and grow. Our organs normally form in the right location and our cells grow and change. The energy
in our mothers body pushes the process along the molecules in that enviroment form a structure known as a
human. All of this is naturally occuring with a hint of randomness. All one must due is add or subtract
energy to an enviroment and the negative and postive forces of the universe will do the rest. While this
sounds cavalier (like sure, no problem, life can form!). It is accurate from what we studied. Could be a
little more clear specifically that entropy can be overcome by the addition of energy (yes from mother,
metabolism), but less clear in general). Definitions 9/9, Violation 5/6, 14/15.
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Vocabulary to consider - positive, negative, energy, environment, randomness, structure, patterns,
molecules, atoms, charges, magnetic, attraction, repulsion.
Name: Julia Griz
Block:1
Entropy is the degree of disorder in a system, but in other words it means what is the likely chance
that something will not go as you planned. An example would be if you toss 10 penies in the air what is the
likely chance that tell will all land on heads? Tails? To me, entropy basically tells you the possibility that it
will not happen as you plan it. The second law of thermodynamics says that over time the quality of matter
deteriarated; spontaneous break down from order to disorder. To me that means that over time things will
slowly move from ordered to disordered. Entropy and the second law of thermodymacis are related because
logicly according to the second law the entropy will increase over time. Self-assembly is the way things
will put themselves together. Despite the fact that it would be easiest to just say things happen randomly in
my opinion, there is no such thing as things happening randomly. There are many things that self-assembly
is based on, the enviornment, the charge and size are bigger factors that self-assembly is based on. The
enviornment is a big factor because depending on the enviornment and the things around it some materials
will have different properties or "act" differntly. Also, charge matters because, like the lab we just did
show, when different charges are put together they will attract themselves, and just the opositte will happen
when you put alike charges together. Size matters becasue with smaller materials, more will fit in a certain
area than if you have bigger materials. Nature does this all the time, with reproducing specially. Like Mr.
Cameron said we don't go to a place where they build our organs they self-assemble themselves to make up
these organs. Since they self-assemble obviously if everything is not roughly the same problems can occur,
like genetic deffects. Great job of pulling all the ideas together. Some misspellings, otherwise perfect.
14.5/15
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Name: Jasmine Hass
Block: 1
-Entropy: Is the exact amount of disorder in a system, that causes things to be random.
-2nd law of Thermodynamics: Things that had order have (it is not that they “have” broken down, but
instead that they are going to break down), spontaneously broken down from order to disorder.
-Self assembly: The way atoms are placed due to any natural state. . (self assembly is really when objects
create structures due to their charges, and environment, and forces that move them).
When you create self assembly lots of things go into making it flow. Positive and negative energy
make things form,if everything is negative they will repel each other making them perfectly spaced out in
rows and columns.If you take one negative charged atom and make it positive they will attract each other,
causing them to group together and form different materials. The randomness between the atom could
cause the atoms to form different materials than the ones you wanted to make. (they wont always make
perfect rows or a perfect stack whe nyou toss them in the air) You basically get the ideas correct with
respect to repulsion and changing shape. Definitions are close 8/9, but little mention of needing to bring
energy to the system to overcome entropy, and create order. When you got structures to form with the
foam, you took randomly organized form, put energy into them (so they would all point correct way), and
that overcame tendency for them to form random structures.) By the way, the energy you used to do
this, was the result of breakdown of food, which added to the randomness of the universe, so you added
entropy to the universe to help the structures form. Violation of energy, 3/6. 11/15 total.
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Name: Sophia Jaeckel
Block:1
Entropy is the amount of randomness in an enviornment. The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics is that over
time, the difference in temperature, pressure and chemical potential all reach an equilibrium in a system-most properties 'even' out. Self-assembly is a rather extraordinary process in which the making or
constructing of a molecule, atom, etc, without the any outside energy. Nature can accomplish this without
violating any laws of conservation through the following four: polarity, enviornment, energy and size. The
charges, or polarity, of an atom is able to give 'direction' as to what and how it bonds, or behaves . The
enviornment of an atom, or whatever substance you have, is also essential to creation: the amount of
humidity in the air, the temperature, the different atoms and molecules circulating around and many other
variables that can affect the formation of a substance, atom or molecule. The energy inputted, or lack
thereof, can either make or break self-assembly--quite literally. If high energy is inputted into the formation
of something, it can change or disrupt certian processes. Last but not least, or maybe least, is the size.
Depending on the size of an atom or molecule there will be different properties that affect it. If it is too
small, the atom or molecule will be resistant to gravity and have a whole set of different properties that
affects it. Self-assembly is a beautiful and impressive natural process. Well done tying all the ideas
together, and how to control the assembly. Some misspellings, but otherwise perfect 14.5/15
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Name:Gannon Kehe Block:1
Entropy: Is the term used to express the amount of disorder in an environment or system.
Second Law of Thermodynamics: States that everything is assentially falling apart as time progresses and
that the universe is slowly going from order to disorder.
Self Assembly: the random formation of atoms and molecules due to attraction and repulsion to form
structures.
In our past lab, we created self assembly through the use of magnets in two different environments. The
magnets arranged themselves evenly spaced due to their positive and negative attractions. This is similar to
the way self assembly occurs with atoms. The magnets also arranged themselves differently depending on
their environment (container). When the magnets were in a circular environment they formed in a circular
shape but when in a square environment, the formed into rows and columns. If one magnet was flipped
them the entire system went to randomness. All energy and mass was conserved, but the system changed
and went from order to disorder which is called entropy. The self assembly of the magnets was conpletely
random and they over time went to disorder when the system was changed. This is comparitive to our
universe because we are slowly going from order to disorder and are constantly changing. . When you got
structures to form with the foam, you took randomly organized form, put energy into them (so they would
all point correct way), and that overcame tendency for them to form random structures.) By the way, the
energy you used to do this, was the result of breakdown of food, which added to the randomness of the
universe, so you added entropy to the universe to help the structures form. You were a little off on
mentioning the use of energy to start the creation of order (from disorder). Still, you got all the
definitions correct and were close on the energy violation piece. 14/15.
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Name:Kelsey Kerr
Block:1
Entropy is the random structure in self assembly made in nature. The second law of
thermodynamics is the quality of matter that deterirstes. Or a spontainous brakedown from order to
disorder. Self assembly is the random structure put together at random and with out specific help and other
energy being put into it (be careful we may put energy in, but steal it from the environment). Self assmebly
is created throughout nature at random. Different charges, both negative and positive, are ways that the
energy is distrubuted and these charges along with energy are put into the factors of random self assembly
in nature. Some charges attract each other and others repel against each other depending on the charges.
Amount of space provided in nature also play a part in the structure made at random, rather there be plenty
of room or barley any space at all. . When you got structures to form with the foam, you took randomly
organized form, put energy into them (so they would all point correct way), and that overcame tendency for
them to form random structures.) By the way, the energy you used to do this, was the result of
breakdown of food, which added to the randomness of the universe, so you added entropy to the universe
to help the structures form. Definitions 9/9, Violation 3/6. 12/15
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Name:Lottia Koenig
Block:1
Entropy: Is the degree of disorder in a system.
Second law of Thermodynamics: Is how over time, differnce's in temperature,pressure, and chemical
potential become equal to eachother in a isolated physical system.
Self Assembly: Is the order of which atoms are placed due to any natural state. (self assembly is really
when objects create structures due to their charges, and environment, and forces that move them).
Paragraph:
You can create self assembly pretty easily. In our lab we tested the the strength and shape of
magnets and shape of containers. The enviorment is was creates the randomness of positive and negative
charged atoms. The structure of of the magnets in the container all depends on wether or not the magnets
repel or attract eachother. The repulsion between the magnets depends on how many negative and postive
charges there are of magnets in the container. The patterns you see formed in the containers is all part of the
randomness from the magnets and shape of the containers, also how much space you may have left in the
container, whether is alot of space left or very little space left. also play a part in the structure made at
random, rather there be plenty of room or barley any space at all. . When you got structures to form with
the foam, you took randomly organized form, put energy into them (so they would all poi nt correct way),
and that overcame tendency for them to form random structures.) By the way, the energy you used to do
this, was the result of breakdown of food, which added to the randomness of the universe, so you added
entropy to the universe to help the structures form. Definitions a little off 8/9, but really missing tie in to
violation issues. No real mention of energy being used to overcome entropy. 3/6, 11/15 total.
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Name:Tommy Li
Block:1
Entropy is the amount of randomness in a system. It is related to the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics which
says that there are random breakdowns of order to disorder, so over time everything will become
disordered.
Self-assembly is how things go from disorder to order naturally. In nature this happens all the time because
of the environment, size of atoms, and charges of atoms. With in the environment the atoms will either
attract each other or repel each other, both are apparent. The structures that form may form patterns like if
all atoms repelled each other, there would be even space between all of them. The molecules that form will
break down over time and it will return to disorder. When self-assembly happens, little energy is required
because most of what happens is because of the attractive and repulsive forces. Energy may only be needed
to bring them close enough to self-assemble. No rules are broken because randomess is still apparent. The
structures that form are not always the same. You were close to stating this, but it is key. When you got
structures to form with the foam, you took randomly organized form, put energy into them (so they
would all point correct way), and that overcame tendency for them to form random structures.) By the
way, the energy you used to do this, was the result of breakdown of food, which added to the randomness
of the universe, so you added entropy to the universe to help the structures form. Definitions 9/9,
violation 5/6, 14/15.
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Name:Adam Mader
Block:1
Entropy is basicly a thermodynamic property that is used to measure the unavaible energy that is
not useful for work during a thermodynamic process. Such process may include engines or energy
conversion devices.
The second law of thermodynamics is that the loses of temperature, pressure, and chemical
potential over time could cause spontaneous breakdown.
The thought of how a person can create self assembly without natural means, without violating the
laws of conversion could prove being quite difficult. For example when a baby is born all of its organs are
already in the proper place, there was no need to train your cells to go to a certian location in order to make
the organs. During the development of baby, while it is still in th e womb the cells already are programed to
go to a certain location and to begin completing a certain tasks such as beating. Doing this artifically could
be difficult. For nature does it through process of attraction and through patterns. The atoms are of diffrent
charges so there for they come together. When coming together the atoms form patterns and these patterns,
when large enough, start completing tasks. Definitions are okay, but the mention of violation of second
law is a little weak. Where does the energy come from to make this happen? Refer back to the lab.
When you got structures to form with the foam, you took randomly organized form, put energy into them
(so they would all point correct way), and that overcame tendency for them to form random structures.)
By the way, the energy you used to do this, was the result of breakdown of food, which added to the
randomness of the universe, so you added entropy to the universe to help the structures form.
Definitions 9/9, violation 3/6, 12/15.
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Name: Sara Maruyama Block:1
Entropy- the degree of disorder in a system.
2nd Law of Thermodynamics- the spontanious break down from order to disorder
Self Assembly- The making of a structure without any outside energy out in. The atoms come together
purely based on attraction and replusion
Nature can create self assembly and not violate the laws of conservation because self assembly is
created from attraction and replusion. This relates back to entropy and the 2nd law of thermodynamics and
how they both balence out order and disorder. Self assembly is a random group of atoms that due to
attraction they come together in an orderly fashion. because they dont need outside energy to do this the
law of conservation is not violated. When you got structures to form with the foam, you took randomly
organized form, put energy into them (so they would all point correct way), and that overcame tendency for
them to form random structures.) By the way, the energy you used to do this, was the result of
breakdown of food, which added to the randomness of the universe, so you added entropy to the universe
to help the structures form. Nature has to do this too, somehow get the energy to prevent structures from
just clumping up. Definitions 9/9, violations 2.5/6 – 11.5/15
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Name:Vincent Milczek
Block:1
The defonition of entropy is the basic degree of how disorder is in a system. The defonintion of the second
law of thermodynamics is an expression of tendency that over time differences in temperature, pressure
and chemical potential equilibrate in an isolated physical system, quality of matter deteroriates,
spontaneous breakdown from order to disorder. The defonition of self assembly is that in a disordered
system of pre-existing components forms an organized structure or pattern as a complete product.
Self assembly can be created and mimiced by nature. The general idea of how the experiment can be
mimiced by magnets shows that positive and negative bonds can be formed when even randomly placed
into a container. The enviorment also plays a role of how self assembly could be formed. For example,
when all of the magnets in the experiment had a unison charge they seperated primarly around the edges of
the container first. Then there was a shape formed in th center which shows that there were patterns
formed. Asuming that this is a similar to the senerio with atoms on the micro scale. Although the diffrence
is size and structure, magnetism also played a vital role in the experiment its self. The magnets that form
the structure all relped each other in order to form that structure, although, if one magnet was fliped it
would show the potential energy of attraction and a different structure would form. When you got structures
to form with the foam, you took randomly organized form, put energy into them (so th ey would all point
correct way), and that overcame tendency for them to form random structures.) By the way, the energy
you used to do this, was the result of breakdown of food, which added to the randomness of the universe,
so you added entropy to the universe to help the structures form. You don’t really mention any of this
with how we overcome randomness. Definitions 9/9, violation 2.5/6 Total 11.5/15
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Name:Brenna Morgan Block:1
Entropy is the system of the energy, how order and disorder balance out to create the energy.
The Second Law of Thermodynamics is the rule that energy leans towards randomness. Disorder typically
over rules order in systems.
Self Assembly is the way nature assembles itself. There is no order in the way nature creates itself, it is all
according to the charge and surroundings of the assembled material.
Self Assembly is a perfect example of entropy. There is no distinct way that things in nature
assemble the same way. One habiscus flower may not create itself the same way a different habiscus does;
they may follow the same steps, but there are seperate factor. Positive and negative charges of energy and
the flower's surroundings create different enviornments for each habiscus and therefore differentiates the
two in their creation. There is a set randomness in the way the flower builds itself up. This all applies to
Entropy and The Second Law of THermodynamics because assembly of molecules follows a system of
disorder--hence a connection to Entropy. This system which the molecules follow always follows a path of
disorder, there is no set order to the construction; this is Self Assembly's conncetion to The Second Law of
Thermodynamics. You seem to have this exactly backwards in some ways. The randomness would NOT
lead to a flower, but just gases floating around. Energy is put IN to the system (sunlight) to create your
flowers. When you got structures to form with the foam, you took randomly organized form, put energy
into them (so they would all point correct way), and that overcame tendency for them to form random
structures.) By the way, the energy you used to do this, was the result of breakdown of food, which
added to the randomness of the universe, so you added entropy to the universe to help the structures
form. Definitions 9/9, violations 3/6 12/15.
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Name:Micah OH-NO!
Block:1
Entropy is the degree of disorder in a system which is related to the probabilty of a random
outcome i.e. the probablity that when throwing a complete deck of cards into the air, the cards will all land
face up, in a stack, and sorted by suit.
The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics discusses the spontaneous breakdown from order to disorder
within a system i.e.the collasping of a star.
Self assembly is the process in which atoms and molecules arrange themselves into structures
which are determined by using the forces of attraction and repulsion as well as the enviroment and energy.
Self assembly can be created while not violating the laws of conservation because, self assembly
takes energy to form bonds and releases energy to break bonds which means that no energy is reated, but
instead being taken away from and given back to the enviroment. This way, when a spontaneous
breakdown from order to disorder occurs, energy is being released, NOT destroyed. Also, when self
assembly is created i.e. the lipid bilayer, it is NOT creating energy, but instead taking energy from the
enviroment. You nailed the idea exactly, by pointing out that energy must come from the environment to
overcome the tendancy toward randomness Definitions 9/9, violations 6/6 – 15/15.
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Enthropy: the randomness of order in a system
Second law of thermodynamics.
Matter is constantly being broken apart and reorganized. (tends toward more randomness), and
missing definition of self assembly.
Name:Jossue Rodriguez Block:1
Self assembly can be created by first of all stting up a system for assembly. As you create a system
you decress the possible degree of entropy. Great point! For example when we were going through the self
assembly lab putting the magnets in a container and water, this limited the possible arangment to the the
given shap of the container. In the same way as carbon is the main building block and the only form of life
on earth. The water also allows movement. Were as in earth the formation of an atmosphere allows
different arrangements to be formed. When we add a positive and negative charge we are adding energy
and a basis by which order is formed. Simply by changing the charge we can change the structure.
However all of these forms of order are eventually broken down as it losses energy and once again is sent
into disorder. This can be seen in stars these stars have mass and energy, energy that with time is released,
and with the energy gone the structure also deteriates. While definition of self-assembly is missing you
did a great job of explaining the use of energy to build the system up. 13/15.
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Name: Katie Rohwer
Block:1
Enthropy is how much disorder is in a system, meaning that the system which appears ordered is not
because self assembly is a random process that leads to random structures that appear to have some degree
of order.
The Second law of Thermodynamics is the spontanious brake down from order to disorder, meaning that
energy must be put in to the system in order to break apart the system creating disorder which will
eventually lead to some sort of order through self assembly. (No need to break apart (by input of energy),
but may require energy to create an environment to allow for self assembly).
Self assembly is the natural way structures are created. The structures are affected by the charge and
enviornment of the molecules. Self assembly is a compleatly random process that seems to create disorder,
but is creating order.
Self assembly does not violate the conservation laws because self assemly can be measured by
enthropy and when energy is added to a system it goes from order to disorder. The charges of the
molecules and the enviornment in which they are in affects how quickly they will self assemble. The self
assembly is random, but the randomness occurs because of the shape of the enviornment and the ratio of
positive and negative charges on the molecules. You seem to have this backwards. Self-assembly is
making order from disorder. But it does so by stealing energy from the environment. When you got
structures to form with the foam, you took randomly organized form, put energy into them (so they would
all point correct way), and that overcame tendency for them to form random structures.) By the way, the
energy you used to do this, was the result of breakdown of food, which added to the randomness of the
universe, so you added entropy to the universe to help the structures form. Definitions 9/9, violation
3/6, total 12/15.
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Vocabulary to consider - positive, negative, energy, environment, randomness, structure, patterns,
molecules, atoms, charges, magnetic, attraction, repulsion.
Name:Nikayla Strauss Block:1
Entropy is the amount of randomness in a system, and the second law of thermodynamics states
that entropy could increase randomly over time; the system could go from ordered to disordered if a certain
amount of energy is put in. Self-assembly is nature's way of changing atoms from disorder to order. Selfassembly is determined by energy put in to, or taken away from a system, the environment that the system
is in, and the charges (attraction or repulsion) of the atoms. In self-assembly, atoms are not removed or
added, and energy is not destroyed or created, which means that self-assembly does not violate any laws of
conservation. The process is the transfer of energy and the re-arraingment of atoms in a system. The atoms
re-arrainge based on their charges which determine whether they attract or repel the atoms next to them.
The structure that is the result has a low entropy because it is now an ordered system. Based on the second
law of entropy, the system will deteriorate eventually and the entropy will increase, possibly starting the
process all over again. Well done, definitions are good, and you have correct direction for energy needed
to be put in to help create some order. 15/15.
Restate, in your own words, what entropy is, and, the second law of thermodynamics. Define selfassembly. Write a brief paragraph that explains how you can create self assembly (or how nature does it),
in such a way that conservation laws are NOT violated.
Vocabulary to consider - positive, negative, energy, environment, randomness, structure, patterns,
molecules, atoms, charges, magnetic, attraction, repulsion.
Name:Cody Zimmerman Block:1
Entropy is the degree of randomness or a sence of disorder in a system. The second law of
thermodynamics states that the quality of matter spontaniously break down and deteriorates. self assembly
is the random putting together or combinng forces of atoms in the universe to form unique
unconsequesntial or rather unplanned stuctures.
Self assembly accures by nature through energy. Charges, north and south poles, cause both
attraction and repealing forces. Thus some charges connect while others push away from each other thus
froming a unique shape and then an item is self assembled. other factors of self assembly by nature are are
the amount of space provided this cant determine size but not shape of an item. Definitions are fine, but
the mention of self-assembly does not really address the energy issue. When you got structures to form
with the foam, you took randomly organized form, put energy into them (so they would all point correct
way), and that overcame tendency for them to form random structures.) By the way, the energy you used
to do this, was the result of breakdown of food, which added to the randomness of the universe, so you
added entropy to the universe to help the structures form. Definitions 9/9, violation 2/6, 11/15