Fun with Atoms:Atom Building Game

Welcome!

Who is CPO Science?

• Developer and publisher of inquiry-based science curriculum and hands-on materials• How many have heard of CPO Science?• Sample materials at your table – PLEASE LEAVE FOR OTHER WORKSHOPS – WE CAN MAIL SAMPLES – Thanks very much!

How is CPO Science Different?• We design and manufacture high quality

science equipment and INCLUDE IT with purchase of textbook sets

• We support guided inquiry through extensive teacher support material and reader-friendly texts

• We offer strong science content that is a blend of conceptual and quantitative approaches.

What Subject Areas?• High School: Physical Science, Earth/Space

Science, Physics First, CP Physics• Middle School: Earth, Life, Physical• Visit the booth• Request samples with raffle forms at end

of workshop

Now for the fun!

Key Questions• What are atoms and

how are they put together?• What does atomic

structure have to do with the periodic table?

Subatomic Particles

•What three basic particles make up all atoms?

Subatomic Particles

•Protons•Neutrons•Electrons

Subatomic Particles

•The marbles represent these particles. Can you guess which marble represents which particle?

Subatomic Particles

•Now see if you can determine which are protons and which are neutrons:

• Several groups build an atom with:

Building Atoms• Group 1:

7 blues, 6 reds, 6 yellows• Group 2:

15 yellows, 16 blues, 15 reds• Group 3:

8 yellows, 8 reds, and 9 blues

The game of Atomic Challenge• 4 players or teams per board• Each player starts with 6 blues, 5 reds, and 5 yellows in their board pocket.• Each player takes turns adding marbles to the atom (up to 5 per turn) to make real, stable atoms.• The first player to lose all their marbles wins!!!

Atom Building Reminders

Building Atoms using Nuclear Particle Cards

• Each player starts with 7 of each color in the board pocket.

• 4 players or teams per board• Shuffle cards and deal 5 per player• On each turn, play a card and add or

take particles as the card instructs• On some turns you will score points; on

other turns you will not (you may be blocking an opponent)

Scoring Points: If your move…• Creates or leaves a stable nucleus, you score 1 point• Creates or leaves a neutral atom, you score 1 point• Creates a perfect, neutral atom with a stable nucleus, you score 3 points• First person to 15 points wins!

Light and the Atom

Atoms absorb and then emit energy with their electrons When the energy emitted falls within the visible spectrum we see it as light

Laser LightAn Acronym - Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation MonochromaticIn-PhaseCoherentMany Uses

The game of Photons & Lasers• Teaches players about how light is

absorbed and emitted from atoms• The objective of the game is to score

points by stimulating excited electrons to lase, emitting photons of light

• Players play pump cards to excite the atom by moving electrons up energy levels

• Players score points by playing lase cards and moving electrons back down energy levels

Setting Up Photons & Lasers

• To begin, the atom should be set up for a specific element

• Neon 20 is a good choice with 10 each of protons, neutrons, and electrons

• The electrons should all start in the lowest possible levels – the ground state

• Each player is dealt 5 cards from the shuffled deck of Photon & Lasers cards

• Play consists of moving electrons up and down energy levels, the nucleus remains unchanged.

Pump Cards• Pump cards represent photons of

light absorbed by the atom• An absorbed photon raises a

single electron the number of energy levels corresponding to the energy (color) of the photon shown on the card• No points are scored with pump

cards, but the atom is raised to an excited state which can later be used to earn points by playing laser cards.

Laser Cards• Laser cards represent the emission of light from the atom, matching the energy (color) of the stimulating photon• Playing a laser card allows the player to move as many electrons as possible down the number of energy levels specified on the card• When electrons move down energy levels points are scored!

Scoring Points• In any given turn electrons may be

moved from one level only and only to unfilled states in the appropriate lower level

• The total number of electrons moved down (lased) multiplied by the number of energy levels indicated on the laser card equals the points for that turn

• 1 electron moved 2 levels = 1 x 2 = 2 points

• 3 electrons moved 2 levels = 3 x 2 = 6 points

• 4 electrons moved 3 levels = 4 x 3 = 12 points