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.
Keywords
Teacher Tips
Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ). |
Teacher-Submitted Activities
Title | Authors | Level | Type | Subject | ||
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Build an Atom | Emily Moore, Ariel Paul, Trish Loeblein, Kathy Perkins | MS | HW Guided Lab |
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 | HS UG-Intro |
Guided | Chemistry | ||
PhET Sims Aligned to the Chemistry Curriculum | Julia Chamberlain | UG-Intro HS |
Other | Chemistry | ||
Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS | Trish Loeblein | HS | Other | Earth Science Physics Biology Chemistry |
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How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? | Sarah Borenstein | MS | Other | Chemistry Biology Earth Science Physics |
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Mapping of PhET and IBDP Physics | Jaya Ramchandani | HS | Other | Physics | ||
MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment | Elyse Zimmer | MS HS |
Other | Physics Biology Chemistry |
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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 | Chemistry Physics |
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Unguided atoms intro | Martin Hofkamp | MS HS |
HW Lab |
Chemistry | ||
Playing with atoms | Simon Lees | HS | Guided Lab HW |
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 | Lab HW Guided |
Chemistry | ||
Build an Atom Lab! | Jamie Schoenberger | MS | Guided Lab |
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 | HS MS |
Guided | Chemistry Physics |
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Preguntas de razonamiento para todas las simulaciones HTML5 | Diana López | Grad UG-Intro K-5 UG-Adv MS HS |
HW Discuss |
Chemistry Mathematics Astronomy Physics |
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Constitución básica de un átomo | Andrés Palomo, Brisa Aguilera y Diana López | MS HS |
HW Guided |
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 |
Physics Chemistry |
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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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