Atomic Model Timeline Project
Objective: Understand the experimental design and conclusions used in the development of the modern
atomic theory, including Dalton's postulates, Thompson's discovery of the electron properties, Rutherford's
nuclear atom, and Bohr's nuclear atom.
Atomic Model Timeline Project
1. Be chronological in its sequence, with the dates clearly shown (it need not be to scale).
2. Contain, through pictures and/or explanations the significant contributions and experiments of
those scientists and atomic models listed above.
3. Be neat and legible.
Your timeline is due on ____________________
You do not have to follow the typical horizontal timeline format; you may be creative and use any format you
wish.
Introduction:
If you were asked to draw the structure of an atom, what would you draw? Throughout history scientists have
accepted five atomic models. Our perception of the atom has changed from the early Greek model because of
clues or evidences that have been gathered through scientific experiments. As more evidence was gathered old
models were discarded or improved upon. Your goal is to trace the atomic theory through history.
Task:
You will use your notes, worksheets and the Internet sources provided to learn more about the scientists and
discoveries that have led to our current knowledge of the structure of the atom.
Using your research, construct a timeline as a visual representation of the development of modern atomic
theory.
Draw the five historical models of the atom – Democritus/Dalton, Thomson's Plum Pudding, Rutherford, Bohr,
Modern Electron Cloud/Quantum Mechanical
Process:
_ Read the whole direction.
_ Get out your notes from the atomic theory ppts.
_ Use any of the following Web sites to get information about listed scientists and their discoveries that were
not in your notes. You may search other Web sites on your own or use library resources.
Organize the following information on the Timeline:
_ Names of all 9 scientists in the table below
_ The year of the scientists discovery
_ In 1-2 sentences tell the importance of the discovery that relates to the structure of the atom (some of these
people did many types of research)
_ Pictures of the five historical models of the atom – Dalton,
Thomson's Plum Pudding, Rutherford, Bohr, Modern Electron
John Dalton
James Chadwick
Ernest Rutherford
J.J. Thomson
Democritus
Robert Millikan
Neils Bohr
Max Planck
Erwin Schrodinger
A timeline is in chronological order – earliest time to latest time. Because you are going to keep your comments
to 1-2 sentences, a graph or report will not be appropriate.
Evaluation:
Category
4
3
2
1
0
Dates/Scientist
All scientists
listed dates are
correct and in
order.
All
contributions
listed and apply
to the Atomic
Theory
All 5 models
are drawn
correctly and
named
Timeline and
models are
exceptionally
attractive in
terms of layout,
neatness, and
use of color.
6-8 scientists
are list or 2 are
out of order
4-6 scientists
are listed or 3-5
are out of order
1-3 scientists
are listed or 6-7
are out or order
0 scientist are
listed or all are
out of order
2-3 errors or
contributions
not listed or do
not apply to the
Atomic Theory
4 models are
drawn correctly
and named
4-6 errors or
contributions
not listed or do
not apply to the
Atomic Theory
3 models are
drawn correctly
and named
9 or more errors
or contributions
not listed or do
not apply to the
Atomic Theory
0 models are
drawn correctly
and named
Timeline and
models are
attractive in
terms of layout,
neatness, and
use of color
Timeline and
models are
acceptable in
terms of
neatness, layout
but no use of
color
7-8 errors or
contributions
not listed or do
not apply to the
Atomic Theory
2 or 1 models
are drawn
correctly and
named
Timeline and
models are
messy with no
use of color.
Contribution to
Atomic Theory
Models of Atoms
Attractiveness
Timeline and
models are not
legible, messy
and have no
color.