A Journey Through Time
The Atom
Introduction:
If you were asked to draw the structure of an atom, what would you draw? Throughout history
scientists have accepted several 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 search 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, you will construct a virtual timeline as a visual representation of the
development of modern atomic theory. Using Microsoft Powerpoint, you can create a slideshow in
increasing chronological order representing the scientists and their discoveries as listed below.
You need to include drawings or models of these six main historical models of the atom – The
Greeks (Democritus/ Aristotle), John Dalton, J.J. Thomson, Ernest Rutherford, Neils Bohr, James
Chadwick, and the Modern Atomic Model (aka Electron Cloud Model).
Process:
Read the entire Assignment
Use any of the following Web sites to get information about listed scientists and their discoveries
that were not in your text. You may search other Web sites on your own or use library resources.
Include the following on your slideshow timeline:
1.
Name of scientist, year of discovery, and importance of discovery credited to all scientists
listed in the below. How did this discovery change our view of the atom or its properties?
How did it influence future research?
2. In 2-4 sentences tell the importance of the discovery that relates to the structure of the
atom (some of these people did many types of research). How did this discovery change our
view of the atom? How did it influence future research?
3. Thompson, Rutherford and Millikan are each noted for a landmark experiment; what
was it and what did it prove? Detail each experiment on a slide. Include a
diagramed picture of the experimental setup and results of the experiment.
4.
On a separate slide, draw or insert a diagramed picture of the main historical models of the
atom credited to The Greeks (Democritus/ Aristotle), John Dalton, J.J. Thomson, Ernest
Rutherford, Neils Bohr, James Chadwick, and the Modern Atomic Model (aka Electron Cloud
Model).
Scientists to be included in the Atomic Timeline:
Aristotle
Isaac Newton
J.J. Thomson
Neils Bohr
James Chadwick
Democritus
Henri Becquerel
John Dalton
Ernest
Rutherford
Robert Millikan
Werner
Heisenbery
Henry Moseley
Erwin
Schrodinger
Louis De Broglie
Resources:
Atom - The Incredible World: http://library.thinkquest.org/19662/low/eng/index.html
Atomic Structure Table of Contents:
http://www.dbhs.wvusd.k12.ca.us/webdocs/AtomicStructure/AtomicStructure.html
Encarta - Atom: http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761567432_9/Atom.html
The History of Atomic Theory: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/ug/cooked1/index.htm (info about
Thomson's Plum Pudding under Modern Atomic Theory section)
Science Help Online Chemistry:
http://www.fordhamprep.org/gcurran/sho/sho/lessons/lesson32.htm
The Atom - Info and Democritus, Plum Pudding, Rutherford Models:
http://www.lbl.gov/abc/wallchart/chapters/02/1.html
History of the atom - Info and Plum Pudding, Rutherford, Bohr models:
http://www.broadeducation.com/htmlDemos/AbsorbChem/HistoryAtom/page.htm
A Look Inside the Atom - J.J. Thomson : http://www.aip.org/history/electron/jjhome.htm
Gold Foil Experiment - Ernest Rutherford:
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/electromag/java/rutherford/
Millikan Oil Drop Experiment: http://library.thinkquest.org/19662/low/eng/biog-millikan.html
Chapter Three - Atoms and Atomic Masses:
http://www.woodrow.org/teachers/chemistry/links/chem1/Chapter3.html
Atomic Theory Timeline: http://atomictimeline.net/index.php
Atomic Museum: http://www.atomicmuseum.com/tour/atomicage.cfm
Atomic Theory 1 – The Early Days :
http://www.visionlearning.com/library/module_viewer.php?mid=50
Atomic Theory 2 – Electrons in Atoms:
http://www.visionlearning.com/library/module_viewer.php?mid=51
Atomic Structure – The Development of the Atom:
http://library.thinkquest.org/C006669/data/Chem/atomic/development.html
Electron Cloud Model: http://regentsprep.org/Regents/physics/phys05/catomodel/cloud.htm
Britannica DVD, 2000 edition: http://www.emsb.qc.ca/laurenhill/science/models.html