Fun with Atoms: Atom Building Game Welcome!

Who is CPO Science? Developer and publisher of inquiry-based science curriculum and hands-on materials How many have heard of CPO Science? Sample materials at your table – PLEASE LEAVE FOR OTHER WORKSHOPS – WE CAN MAIL SAMPLES – Thanks very much!

How is CPO Science Different? We design and manufacture high quality science equipment and INCLUDE IT with purchase of textbook sets We support guided inquiry through extensive teacher support material and reader-friendly texts We offer strong science content that is a blend of conceptual and quantitative approaches.

What Subject Areas? High School: Physical Science, Earth/Space Science, Physics First, CP Physics Middle School: Earth, Life, Physical Visit the booth Request samples with raffle forms at end of workshop

Now for the fun!

Key Questions What are atoms and how are they put together? What does atomic structure have to do with the periodic table? These are the key questions we will be investigating in this workshop. The investigations we will perform in this workshop are actually excerpts from investigation numbers 18.2 and (Comparing Atoms), 18.3 (The Periodic Table of Elements), Key questions already investigated: What sorts of discoveries have been made about atomic structure? How was the size of an atom’s nucleus determined?

Subatomic Particles What three basic particles make up all atoms?

Subatomic Particles Protons Neutrons Electrons Interestingly, many times rooms full of science people will recite these particles in this exact order.

Subatomic Particles The marbles represent these particles. Can you guess which marble represents which particle? Everyone will guess that the small yellow marbles are electrons, which is correct. The electron is represented with a small marble because it contributes almost no mass to the atom. However, no one will know for sure which particle goes with red and blue marbles, since they are the same size and protons and neutrons contribute equally to the mass of the atom. The electron is actually about 1/1800th the mass of the proton or neutron, so the discrepancy in actual size is quite pronounced in the physical world. Here we are using a model, and we want to get the point across that the electron is smaller than the proton and neutron, which the different size marbles demonstrates. This is a qualitative concept.

Subatomic Particles Now see if you can determine which are protons and which are neutrons: The following slide will present a puzzle to the participants; working through the puzzle will allow them to figure out what color the protons and neutrons are.

Building Atoms Several groups build an atom with: 7 blues, 6 reds, 6 yellows Group 2: 15 yellows, 16 blues, 15 reds Group 3: 8 yellows, 8 reds, and 9 blues Several groups build an atom with: Now can you figure out which is which? Participants will now know that reds are protons, since in a neutral atom, the number of electrons (yellows) must equal the number of protons (reds). The blue marbles are therefore neutrons. What atom did each group build? (start with first groups on list – Carbon, then Phosphorus, then Oxygen) Why did we choose these atoms? CPO!

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!!! Now that we know how the model is set up, let’s apply our knowledge of atomic structure. Here are the rules of the game called “Atomic Challenge”

Atom Building Reminders Remember to follow these rules when building atoms! If another player challenges your atom, and if your atom is indeed incorrect, you must remove all marbles on the board and put them in your board pocket! If the challenger is wrong, that player loses a turn. You can trade marbles with the bank if you want to skip a turn. The number you put in the bank must equal the number you take back out, but the colors can be different. You may stop here if necessary. Up to this point, the workshop should take about 30 min.

Building Atoms using Nuclear Particle Cards Each player starts with 7 of each color 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) Now we will advance one step further, and play another version of the atom building game, this time using the nuclear reaction cards. The rules for playing this game are on this slide See next slide for a summary of how points are scored

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! It is important to note that in this game, you don’t have to build a perfect atom to score points. You can score 1 point if you achieve a stable nucleus, even if the number of protons and electrons are not equal. You can also score 1 point if you achieve a neutral atom, even if the nucleus does not contain a number of neutrons that would represent a stable isotope. However, if you DO achieve a perfect atom in one turn, you can score 3 points. Of course, if you inherit a stable nucleus from the previous player, and you just make the protons and electrons equal each other, you will leave a perfect atom after your turn and you can score all 3 points!!! You might want to put the Atom Building Reminders slide back up so people can refer to it

Light and the Atom Light is generated at the atomic level. We have seen with the games we have played so far that each element has a nucleus containing a specific number of protons and neutrons. The number of protons dictates the element and the number of neutrons indicates the particular isotope. Electrons, as we have seen, have specific energy levels. These energy levels thus far have been used simply to organize and count electrons. When electrons move from a higher energy level to a lower one they give up a bit of energy. This happens in tiny little amounts, or packets of energy that are sometimes called photons. When this little packet of energy is in the range of the visible spectrum we see it as light. Varying amounts of energy correspond to different colors in the spectrum with red having the lowest amount of energy and violet having the greatest. This makes sense if we consider that the negatively charged electrons are attracted to the positively charged nucleus. It takes the addition of energy to pull the electron farther away from the nucleus, and if it were to give up, or emit this energy, it would fall to a lower level. The farther from the nucleus, the higher the amount of energy of that electron. This corresponds to the higher levels on the game board. You’ll notice that each energy level on the board is a little higher than the last moving out from the center. Atoms absorb and then emit energy with their electrons When the energy emitted falls within the visible spectrum we see it as light

Laser Light An Acronym - Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation Monochromatic In-Phase Coherent Many Uses A laser is a special type of flashlight. Lasers typically have a special material. When energized in a specific way, electrons in a laser material move into a higher energy level. Like electrons in the “glow-in-the-dark stuff,” electrons in a laser material do not fall to a lower energy level right away. The operator of a laser can cause electrons in the laser material to be energized or to fall at the same time. This is what happens when a player plays a Laser card. If all the electrons fall at the same time, then the light waves that are created are very unique. All the waves will be aligned in phase. The resulting light is one color because all the waves are the same frequency. The more levels the electrons fall, the more energy will be released and the resulting light will be closer to the violet end of the spectrum. This light is also very bright because the aligned waves do not spread out quickly. (The term LASER is an acronym; it stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.)

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 lase cards and moving electrons back down energy levels The game of Photons & Lasers deals with the behavior of electrons, their structure in the atom, and how this is involved in the production of light. We use our Bohr model atom to explain how this takes place. We use the word PUMP to indicate the energy required to raise or pump an electron up to a higher energy level. We use the word Laser to indicate the process of an electron dropping down one or more energy levels, which results in emitting light of a specific color, (or in other words frequency and wavelength). The goal of the game is to be the player to play Laser cards that will score the most points. Before that can take place, electrons must be pumped up to an open and available spot on a higher energy level.

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. Any atom can be used, but Neon works well since there are so many open spots and energy levels ready to be utilized. The game progresses by players playing one card if possible, and then taking a new card so as to always keep a hand of 5 cards.

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. Pump card move one electron at a time up a certain amount of energy levels indicated on each card, into an excited state. An excited state is a configuration of the atom where one or more electrons can be moved down one or more energy levels. This happens by playing pump cards. Electrons can only be moved to an open spot on an orbital.

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! Lase cards don’t just create light, they create laser light. Laser light is special in that it is coherent. This means that all the light produced is monochromatic and in-phase. Each wavelength is exactly the same size, and has its crests and troughs at the same places which produces an extremely bright and useful kind of light. The laser photon causes stimulated electrons to drop down and emit a photon of light. ( This represents the stimulated emission part of the LASER acronym). This causes a cascade effect, more and more electrons give up their photons at the same time and all the resulting light is coherent, this is the laser light. This is the goal.

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 First decide either how long the game will be played for and the person with the most points at the end of time wins, or set a certain # of points as the goal and the first person to score that amount will be the winner. The strategy involved with scoring points effectively has to do with deciding when to play valuable Laser cards. While Pump cards can raise only one electron at a time to an excited state, Laser cards can cause as many electrons as possible from the same orbital to drop, which can multiply scores quickly. Should you Laser the one electron now with your laser 3 card, or wait a turn or two until a few more electrons get pumped. Or maybe someone else will Laser that one electron you’ve got your eye on. Its all part of the game, but the understanding of the process of the creation of Laser light and the role of atomic structure in this process is the ultimate goal.