Name

________________________________________

Date______________________

Building the Model of the AtomRutherford Scattering

(adapted from Leslie Harper)
Go to http://phet.colorado.edu. Search RUTHERFORD SCATTERING and choose first option.
Step 1: Click the RUN NOW button to load the simulation.
Step 2: Begin with the Rutherford Atom Tab: (set alpha particle properties to half-way between
min and max and select show traces
Step 3: TURN ON the GUN by clicking on it and observe what happens when the alpha particles are
fired at the atoms nucleus. Answer the following questions below:
1. What atom is being represented? __________________
2. What is happening to the majority of the alpha particles (make sure you observe this for a while before
describing)? Draw a picture.

3. What did Rutherford prove about the atom from this experiment?
Change the energy of the alpha particles. Did you increase/decrease the energy (circle one)? Describe your
observations.

Change the atom properties. Did you increase/decrease the protons/neutrons (circle one of each)?
Describe what you see.

Step 4: Now, select the Plum Pudding Atom tab: (return all variables to original settings).
1. What atom is being represented? __________________
2. What is happening to the majority of the alpha particles (make sure you observe this for a while before
describing)? Draw a picture.

Change the energy of the alpha particles. Did you increase/decrease the energy (circle one)? Describe your
observations.

Change the atom properties. Did you increase/decrease the protons/neutrons (circle one of each)?
Describe what you see.

Name ________________________________________

Date______________________

Building the Model of the AtomBohr Model

Go to http://phet.colorado.edu. Search Models of the Hydrogen Atom and choose first option.
Step 1: Click the RUN NOW button to load the simulation.
Step 2: Begin with the Prediction option: (To start, choose white light under white controls)
Step 3: TURN ON the GUN by clicking on it and observe what happens when the alpha particles are
fired at the atoms nucleus. Answer the following questions below:
Choose the billiard ball atomic model. In one sentence or less, describe what is happening:

Whose model is this?
Choose the plum pudding model. In one sentence or less, describe what is happening:

Whose model is this?
Choose the Classical Solar System model. In one sentence or less, describe what is happening:

Whose model is this?
Select the Bohr model. Describe what is happening:

How is it different from the older models?

Select the deBroglie and Schrdinger models. Describe what is happening in each.

Choose one of either Bohr, deBroglie, or Schrdinger. Switch the light from white to monochromatic. What
happens as you change the color? The speed?

Switch to Experiment, set speed to fast, light to white and let run five minutes. What do you see on the
spectrometer? Draw a picture of your results.

Based on your results, which model do you think best represents the atom?