Name: __________________________________
Page #: _______
ATOMS: SOME ELECTRIFYING
INFORMATION!
on
e
In this investigation, you will detect the tiny particles that not only serve as the building blocks of
matter, but also hold the key to understanding electricity.
Objective
When you have completed this investigation, you should be able to analyze the characteristics of
subatomic particles in order to determine how the flow of electrons produces an electric current.
Activity 1 (Drill): Do You Know the Atom?
1.
Discuss with your neighbor what you think an atom looks like. Draw your prediction below. Label
any parts you can.
Prediction
2. How do you think atoms are related to electricity? (You actually already know.)
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Activity 2: Pre-Reading
3. Preview the article, “The Atom,” paying specific attention to the use of text features. List 2 text
features you see.
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4. Review the bold-faced terms from the article. Circle any of the terms with which you are familiar.
Vocabulary
____ atom
____ subatomic particles
Definition
a. the electrically neutral particles found in the nucleus of
the atom
b. the center of the atoms where the protons and neutrons are
located
c. the building blocks of all matter
____ nucleus
d. the area surrounding the nucleus occupied by the
electrons of the atom
e. the negatively charged particles circling the nucleus of
the atom
f. the smaller particles within an atom
____ protons
____ neutrons
____ electrons
g. the positively charged particle found in the nucleus of the
____ electron cloud
atom
Activity 3: Reading
5. Read the article, “The Atom.”
6. Match each term with its correct definition. Can you state the definition in your own words?
Activity 4: Post Reading
7. Complete the graphic organizer below. Use the vocabulary from Activities 2 and 3.
MATTER
______________________________
Nucleus
(+) ___________________
____________________
_______________________
________________
( ) ___________________
_____________________
(-) ___________________
_________________
8. Complete Figure 1, “Structure of the Atom”, by drawing two electrons, two protons, and two
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neutrons in the appropriate places. Use the symbols found in the key for each subatomic particle.
Figure 1
HELIUM ATOM
Structure of the Atom
KEY

9.
Label the electron cloud and the nucleus on “Structure of the Atom” diagram.
Activity 5: Analysis
10. Why is the electron the most likely subatomic particle to be lost or gained by an atom? Think
about the size, location, and movement of electrons as opposed to protons or neutrons.
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11. Electric current is the result of what event within the atoms of a substance?
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The Atom
You see and touch hundreds of things everyday. Although they differ in many ways from
one to another, they all share one important quality: they are all forms of matter. You
already know that matter is anything that has mass and volume. But, have you ever
wondered exactly what makes up matter? Atoms are the answer. That’s right. Atoms
are the building blocks of all matter
Atoms are incredibly small. For example, it takes millions of atoms just to make the
period at the end of this sentence. Since they are so small, scientists have not been able
to observe them directly. Indirect evidence has led scientists to better understand the
structure of an atom.
Based on the evidence gained from experiments, scientists believe that the atom actually
has even smaller components known as subatomic particles. The three main subatomic
particles are protons, neutrons, and electrons. All pure substances, such as gold,
aluminum, or oxygen, are different from each other because their atoms contain different
combinations of these three subatomic particles. These subatomic particles have specific
locations, masses, and charges within the atom itself.
Protons and neutrons are located within the nucleus, or center
of the atom (See Figure 2, The Nucleus). The positively
charged particles found in the nucleus are called protons.
Neutrons are the electrically neutral particles found in the
nucleus. They have no charge. Almost all of the mass of the
atom is found in the nucleus since protons and neutrons are
much larger than electrons (They have about 2,000 times the
mass of electrons.).
Figure 2
The Nucleus
Whirling around the outside of the nucleus are electrons. Electrons have a negative
charge. The exact location of an electron cannot be known. The area surrounding the
nucleus occupied by the electrons is known as the electron cloud. Electrons are not as
tightly bound to the atom as the protons and neutrons, so sometimes electrons move from
atom to atom. It is this movement of electrons that has provided scientists with indirect
evidence of the structure of the atom. Movement of electrons within some forms of
matter can produce electricity. Electricity is used to power a variety of objects such as
toasters, light bulbs, video games, and computers. Electricity has provided scientists with
further evidence that subatomic particles exist within the atoms of matter.
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