The Great Atom Challenge

By convention there is color, By convention sweetness, By convention bitterness, But in reality there are atoms and space.-Democritus (c. 400 BCE)

"The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth." - Neils Bohr

INTRODUCTION

========================================================

The Greek philosopher Leucippus, who lived in the fifth century B.C.E., and his pupil Democritus might well have discussed as they strolled along the Aegean Sea the question about if a pool of water can be separated into drops and then each drop can be split into smaller and smaller drops, and suppose you could keep splitting these drops into still smaller ones after they become too small to see. Would you ever reach a point at which the tiny drop could no longer be separated into smaller droplets of water?

Based on intuition, Leucippus thought that there must ultimately be tiny particles of water that could not be subdivided.

Democritus expanded on Leucippus's idea. He called the particles atomos (meaning "cannot be cut"), from which we derived the modern name atom for the tiny unit particle of an element.

Our scientists accepted atoms as the building blocks of all matter. But it was attained after a period of time, after numerous arguments and presentation of models.

The basic knowledge on how we interpret about atoms are still based on indirect experimental data. Thus, atoms up to now are still impossible to be seen.

The Great Atom Challenge, challenges you to create and showcase the history and differentiate atom models through time and how these models were depicted.

TASK

========================================================

The class will be divided into 8 groups. Each group will have 5 minutes to think of their page design, each member will have different roles to play for the attainment of each team's project. 20 minutes will be alloted for them to gather, sort and collate all data. 10 minutes to edit their page and 5 minutes to present to other groups.

· Make a model of each progression of the atom
· Write a brief description to go with each model explaining the various components
· Present the models to the class for peer review and as part of Chemistry Interactive Reviewer (to be explain by your chemistry teacher)

Be sure to include a list of resources used to complete your project (i.e. web sites, books)


Guide questions will be given to help you but this does not mean that you only have to answer these questions because again and again guide questions will only help you look for more answers and for you not to be confined with each question. Probing is a sign of curiosity that will enable you to be more equipped. Generally the goal of the challenge is to determine the history behind each discovery and innovations regarding atoms and atomic models.


Who proposed this model?
Why did he proposed this model? How did he come up with this model?

What were their views/models of the atom?

When and what did he conduct his experiment?
What was he studying?
Summarize his experiment (what he did & what he discovered).
Describe his model of the atom.

What features can be seen on this model?
What weaknesses were found in this model?
Were there any particular law or theory that was associated with this model?

THE PROCESS

========================================================

Each group will be assigned to one of the following atomic models. The group will be responsible to provide all the vital information needed for each section of the timeline.

1. Democritus & Aristotle
2. Joseph Louis Proust
3. Antoine Lavoisier
4. John Dalton
5. J.J. Thompson
6. Ernest Rutherford
7. Neils Bohr
8. Quantum Mechanical Model

Each member in your group is to select one of the following roles to create your project.  A job description is included for each.

• CHEMIST:    Using your scientific background, you describe the chemical concepts behind the atomic model.  You also should include a diagram of the atom.
• BIOGRAPHER:   You look at the life of the scientist/scientists responsible for the model and theory.
• HISTORIAN:   You report and chronicle the significant historical and political events which shape the particular time period.
• PHOTOJOURNALIST:   With a watchful eye, you capture the images of the time.  You copy photos from the Internet or other resources which will supplement the information supplied by the chemist, biographer, and historian.  Pay particular attention to cultural influences, historical events, and everyday life issues which will bring the particular time period to life!
• PAGE DESIGNER: With keen observation, and artistic creativity you create the page/section of the timeline making it very interesting for the target audience. Make all sections worthy of viewing and make it interactive as much as possible.

Read your individual task, brainstorm, and create your group's action plan.  Obviously, all roles must work together to form a successful final product.

Using the internet and textbook resources plus your own ideas, collect any information (text and/or graphics) needed to create your portion.

After completing your research, meet back as a group, compile your findings, and create your section of the timeline.

    Tips to keep in mind:

Be creative.

 Be neat, organized, and professional.

Make it easy to read.

Be consistent with fonts, colors, etc.

Graphics & drawings must be included to make it visually appealing.

Information & grapics must be placed on the paper provided.

Most of all, have fun!

Each member of each group will present their portion of the timeline to the entire class highlighting and explaining the components of their specific model.  After all presentations have been made a timeline should be produced for your class which can now be placed your class C.I.R.