Build an Atom
|
![]() |
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
![]() |
Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ). |
Video Primer
Teacher-Submitted Activities
Concept questions for Physics using PhET (Inquiry Based) |
![]() |
![]() |
Trish Loeblein | HS UG-Intro |
MC | Physics |
Build an Atom - Inquiry-based basics (homework version) |
![]() |
![]() |
Trish Loeblein, Kath Perkins | MS HS UG-Intro K-5 |
HW Remote Lab |
Biology Physics Earth Science Chemistry |
Games Remote Lesson ideas |
![]() |
![]() |
Trish Loeblein | HS UG-Intro MS K-5 |
Remote HW |
Chemistry Physics Mathematics |
Build an Atom Game Remote Lab |
![]() |
![]() |
Trish Loeblein | HS MS UG-Intro |
HW Remote |
Chemistry Earth Science Physics Biology |
Build an Atom |
![]() |
![]() |
Emily Moore, Ariel Paul, Trish Loeblein, Kathy Perkins | MS | Lab HW Guided |
Chemistry |
Build an Atom - Clicker Questions |
![]() |
![]() |
Yuen-ying Carpenter, Robert Parson, Trish Loeblein | UG-Intro | MC | Chemistry |
Build an Atom - Guided-Inquiry Activity |
![]() |
![]() |
Timothy Herzog, Emily Moore | UG-Intro | Guided | Chemistry |
Atomic Addition |
![]() |
Mary Burr | MS | Guided Discuss |
Mathematics | |
What is an atom? |
![]() |
Shari Dunham | UG-Intro HS |
Guided | Chemistry | |
PhET Sims Aligned to the Chemistry Curriculum |
![]() |
Julia Chamberlain | UG-Intro HS |
Other | Chemistry | |
How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? |
![]() |
Sarah Borenstein | MS | Other | Earth Science Biology Chemistry Physics |
|
Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS |
![]() |
Trish Loeblein updated by Diana López | MS HS |
Other | Chemistry Physics Earth Science Biology |
|
Interactive Periodic Table and PhET's Build an Atom | Suzanne Sprague | MS | Remote MC HW Guided |
Chemistry | ||
Build an Atom | martin ramsey | MS | Remote Guided HW Lab |
Chemistry | ||
Lab: PhET Build an Atom | Aaron Keller | UG-Intro HS |
Remote Lab Guided |
Chemistry Physics |
||
Build an atom Periodic Table Virtual Lab | Ellen Plock | HS | Lab Remote |
Chemistry | ||
Atoms | Ghalya Alzarooni | UG-Adv HS UG-Intro |
HW Lab |
Physics Chemistry |
||
MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment | Elyse Zimmer | HS MS |
Other | Chemistry Biology Physics |
||
Introduction to the Structure of the Atom | Liza Basden | MS HS |
Remote Guided 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 | Lab Guided |
Chemistry Physics |
||
Estrutura atômica | Victor Augusto Bianchetti Rodrigues | HS | Guided | Chemistry Physics |
||
Unguided atoms intro | Martin Hofkamp | HS MS |
HW Lab |
Chemistry | ||
Playing with atoms | Simon Lees | HS | Lab HW Guided |
Chemistry | ||
PhET Atom Simulator | Laura Murgo | HS MS |
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 | HW Lab 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 |
Guided HW |
Chemistry | ||
Investigating Ions | Emily Bones | HS | Guided | Chemistry | ||
Build an Atom Student Worksheet | Judy Rieke | HS MS |
Guided | Chemistry Physics |
||
Construye un átomo (indagación) |
![]() |
Moore, Paul, Leoblein y Perkins (traducción Diana López) | MS K-5 |
Discuss HW Lab Guided |
Physics Chemistry |
|
SECUNDARIA: Alineación PhET con programas de la SEP México (2011 y 2017) |
![]() |
Diana López | MS HS |
Other | Mathematics Biology Physics Chemistry |
|
PREPARATORIA: Alineación de PhET con programas de la DGB México (2017) |
![]() |
Diana López | HS UG-Intro |
Other | Physics Chemistry Mathematics |
|
Preguntas de razonamiento para todas las simulaciones HTML5 |
![]() |
Diana López | K-5 UG-Adv MS HS Grad UG-Intro |
HW Discuss |
Chemistry Mathematics Astronomy Physics |
|
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 | Lab Remote |
Physics | ||
computeropdracht atoombouw; leren over atoombouw | Brechtje Maas | HS MS |
Guided HW |
Physics Chemistry |
||
Enquête au sujet des atomes, des éléments, des ions et des isotopes | Lindsay Kidd | Grad | Guided | Chemistry | ||
Moodle et PhetColorado | Claude Divoux | HS | Guided MC Lab |
Chemistry Physics |
||
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 | Guided Lab Remote MC |
Chemistry | ||
construye un atomo | Alexis Rodríguez | HS | Guided Remote |
Physics Chemistry |
||
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 on modern web browsers. If you are experiencing issues using an HTML5 sim on a supported platform, please disable any browser extensions.
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 |
---|---|---|
|
|
|