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.
Teacher Tips
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Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ). |
Video Primer
Teacher-Submitted Activities
Build an Atom - Inquiry-based basics (homework version) |
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Trish Loeblein, Kath Perkins | K-5 MS UG-Intro HS |
HW Lab Remote |
Earth Science Physics Chemistry Biology |
Games Remote Lesson ideas |
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Trish Loeblein | K-5 UG-Intro HS MS |
Remote HW |
Physics Chemistry Mathematics |
Build an Atom Game Remote Lab |
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Trish Loeblein | MS HS UG-Intro |
HW Remote |
Biology Earth Science Physics Chemistry |
Concept questions for Physics using PhET (Inquiry Based) |
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Trish Loeblein | HS UG-Intro |
MC | Physics |
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 | HS UG-Intro |
Guided | Chemistry | |
Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS |
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Trish Loeblein updated by Diana López | MS HS |
Other | Chemistry Physics Earth Science Biology |
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How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? |
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Sarah Borenstein | MS | Other | Chemistry Physics Biology Earth Science |
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PhET Sims Aligned to the Chemistry Curriculum |
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Julia Chamberlain | HS UG-Intro |
Other | Chemistry | |
Build an Atom | martin ramsey | MS | Guided HW Lab Remote |
Chemistry | ||
Lab: PhET Build an Atom | Aaron Keller | HS UG-Intro |
Lab Guided Remote |
Chemistry Physics |
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Build an atom Periodic Table Virtual Lab | Ellen Plock | HS | Lab Remote |
Chemistry | ||
Atoms | Ghalya Alzarooni | UG-Adv HS UG-Intro |
Lab HW |
Chemistry Physics |
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MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment | Elyse Zimmer | HS MS |
Other | Biology Chemistry Physics |
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Introduction to the Structure of the Atom | Liza Basden | MS HS |
Guided Remote Lab |
Chemistry | ||
Build An Atom Guided Inquiry | John Swiniuch | HS | Guided | Chemistry | ||
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 | Guided Lab |
Chemistry Physics |
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Estrutura atômica | Victor Augusto Bianchetti Rodrigues | HS | Guided | Physics Chemistry |
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Unguided atoms intro | Martin Hofkamp | MS HS |
Lab HW |
Chemistry | ||
Playing with atoms | Simon Lees | HS | Lab HW Guided |
Chemistry | ||
PhET Atom Simulator | Laura Murgo | MS HS |
Lab Guided |
Chemistry | ||
Ion Formation | Rasha Metwally | MS | Guided | Chemistry | ||
Making STABLE Atoms Lab | Jonathan Johnson | MS HS |
Lab | Chemistry | ||
Atom Builder | Thomas Isaac | HS | Lab HW Guided |
Chemistry | ||
Build an Atom Lab! | Jamie Schoenberger | MS | Lab Guided |
Chemistry | ||
Student Guide for PhET - Build an Atom in html5 | Brian Libby | MS HS |
HW Guided |
Chemistry | ||
Investigating Ions | Emily Bones | HS | Guided | Chemistry | ||
Build an Atom Student Worksheet | Judy Rieke | MS HS |
Guided | Chemistry Physics |
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Construye un átomo (indagación) |
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Moore, Paul, Leoblein y Perkins (traducción Diana López) | K-5 MS |
Guided Lab HW Discuss |
Chemistry Physics |
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SECUNDARIA: Alineación PhET con programas de la SEP México (2011 y 2017) |
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Diana López | MS HS |
Other | Chemistry Physics Biology Mathematics |
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PREPARATORIA: Alineación de PhET con programas de la DGB México (2017) |
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Diana López | UG-Intro HS |
Other | Physics Mathematics Chemistry |
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Preguntas de razonamiento para todas las simulaciones HTML5 |
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Diana López | MS UG-Adv Grad K-5 HS UG-Intro |
HW Discuss |
Physics Astronomy Chemistry Mathematics |
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ERAIKI ATOMOA jarduerak | Andrés Palomo, Brisa Aguilera eta Diana López. Jaione Eizaguirre-ren itzulpena | HS | Guided HW |
Chemistry | ||
Google quiz - Atoomsoorten - isotopen(notatie) uitleg, spel - Radioactiviteit | Loran de Vries | MS | Remote Lab |
Physics | ||
computeropdracht atoombouw; leren over atoombouw | Brechtje Maas | MS HS |
Guided HW |
Physics Chemistry |
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Enquête au sujet des atomes, des éléments, des ions et des isotopes | Lindsay Kidd | Grad | Guided | Chemistry | ||
Moodle et PhetColorado | Claude Divoux | HS | Lab Guided MC |
Chemistry Physics |
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Costruisci un atomo | Matteo Matteo | MS | Remote Guided |
Chemistry | ||
Estudo sobre Átomos | Felipe Alves Silveira. Ana Karine Portela Vasconcelos. | HS | Guided | Chemistry | ||
identificación de los átomos | angelica gonzalez | HS | Remote | Chemistry | ||
FICHA DE ACTIVIDADES - 5 GRADO - EL ÁTOMO - ESTRUCTURA - PHET | GUADALUPE REBAZA | K-5 | MC Remote Guided Lab |
Chemistry | ||
construye un atomo | Alexis Rodríguez | HS | Remote Guided |
Chemistry Physics |
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Estructura del átomo y su naturaleza eléctrica. | MYRIAN YOLANDA | HS | Remote | Chemistry | ||
Constitución básica de un átomo | Andrés Palomo, Brisa Aguilera y Diana López | HS MS |
Guided HW |
Physics | ||
Construcción de átomos | Miriam Pujadas | HS | Guided | Chemistry | ||
Construyendo algunos átomos | Félix A. Gutiérrez Múzquiz | MS | Demo | Chemistry |
Browse legacy activities.
HTML5 sims can run on iPads and Chromebooks, as well as PC, Mac, and Linux systems.
iPad:
iOS 12+ 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, latest version of Firefox, latest version of Google Chrome.
Macintosh Systems:
macOS 10.13+, Safari 13+, 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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