Build an Atom
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Original Sim and Translations |
Topics
- Atoms
- Atomic Structure
- Isotope Symbols
- Atomic Nuclei
Description
Build an atom out of protons, neutrons, and electrons, and see how the element, charge, and mass change. Then play a game to test your ideas!
Sample Learning Goals
- Use the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons to draw a model of the atom, identify the element, and determine the mass and charge.
- Predict how addition or subtraction of a proton, neutron, or electron will change the element, the charge, and the mass.
- Use the element name, mass, and charge to determine the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
- Define proton, neutron, electron, atom, and ion.
- Generate an isotopic symbol for an atom, given the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Keywords
Teacher Tips
| Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ). |
Teacher-Submitted Activities
| Title |
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Authors | Level | Type | Subject |
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| Build an Atom |
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Emily Moore, Ariel Paul, Trish Loeblein, Kathy Perkins | MS | HW Guided Lab |
Chemistry |
| Build an Atom - Clicker Questions |
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Yuen-ying Carpenter, Robert Parson, Trish Loeblein | UG-Intro | MC | Chemistry |
| Build an Atom - Guided-Inquiry Activity |
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Timothy Herzog, Emily Moore | UG-Intro | Guided | Chemistry |
| Atomic Addition |
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Mary Burr | MS | Guided Discuss |
Mathematics | |
| What is an atom? |
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Shari Dunham | UG-Intro HS |
Guided | Chemistry | |
| How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? |
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Sarah Borenstein | MS | Other | Earth Science Physics Chemistry Biology |
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| Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS |
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Trish Loeblein | HS | Other | Biology Physics Earth Science Chemistry |
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| PhET Sims Aligned to the Chemistry Curriculum |
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Julia Chamberlain | UG-Intro HS |
Other | Chemistry | |
| MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment | Elyse Zimmer | HS MS |
Other | Physics Chemistry Biology |
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| Mapping of PhET and IBDP Physics | Jaya Ramchandani | HS | Other | Physics | ||
| Roll an Atom | Hana Buttles | K-5 MS |
HW | Chemistry | ||
| Visual Nucleosynthesis [Basic High School] | Blake Wiehe | HS | Lab Guided |
Physics Chemistry |
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| Estrutura atômica | Victor Augusto Bianchetti Rodrigues | HS | Guided | Physics Chemistry |
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| Unguided atoms intro | Martin Hofkamp | HS MS |
Lab HW |
Chemistry | ||
| Playing with atoms | Simon Lees | HS | Guided HW Lab |
Chemistry | ||
| PhET Atom Simulator | Laura Murgo | HS MS |
Guided Lab |
Chemistry | ||
| Ion Formation | Rasha Metwally | MS | Guided | Chemistry | ||
| Making STABLE Atoms Lab | Jonathan Johnson | MS HS |
Lab | Chemistry | ||
| Atom Builder | Thomas Isaac | HS | Guided HW Lab |
Chemistry | ||
| Build an Atom Lab! | Jamie Schoenberger | MS | Lab Guided |
Chemistry | ||
| Student Guide for PhET - Build an Atom in html5 | Brian Libby | HS MS |
Guided HW |
Chemistry | ||
| Investigating Ions | Emily Bones | HS | Guided | Chemistry | ||
| Build an Atom Student Worksheet | Judy Rieke | HS MS |
Guided | Physics Chemistry |
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| Preguntas de razonamiento para todas las simulaciones HTML5 |
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Diana López | MS UG-Intro Grad HS K-5 UG-Adv |
HW Discuss |
Astronomy Chemistry Physics Mathematics |
| Constitución básica de un átomo |
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Andrés Palomo, Brisa Aguilera y Diana López | MS HS |
Guided HW |
Physics | |
| computeropdracht atoombouw; leren over atoombouw | Brechtje Maas | MS HS |
HW Guided |
Physics Chemistry |
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| Moodle et PhetColorado | Claude Divoux | HS | Guided Lab MC |
Chemistry Physics |
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| Estudo sobre Átomos | Felipe Alves Silveira. Ana Karine Portela Vasconcelos. | HS | Guided | Chemistry | ||
| Construcción de átomos | Miriam Pujadas | HS | Guided | Chemistry | ||
| Construyendo algunos átomos | Félix A. Gutiérrez Múzquiz | MS | Demo | Chemistry |
Browse legacy activities.
The new HTML5 sims can run on iPads and Chromebooks, as well as PC, Mac, and Linux systems.
iPad:
iOS 11+ Safari
iPad compatible sims
Android:
Not officially supported. If you are using the HTML5 sims on Android, we recommend using the latest version of Google Chrome.
Chromebook:
Latest version of Google Chrome
The HTML5 and Flash PhET sims are supported on all Chromebooks.
Chromebook compatible sims
Windows Systems:
Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11, latest version of Firefox, latest version of Google Chrome.
Macintosh Systems:
macOS 10.9.5+, Safari 9+, latest version of Chrome.
Linux Systems:
Not officially supported. Please contact phethelp@colorado.edu with troubleshooting issues.
| Design Team | Third-party Libraries | Thanks To |
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