Using the PhET hydrogen atom simulation to test ideas from classical and quantum physics Scientists make observations of the world around them. Based on those observations, they often develop models of the phenomena they observe. In this activity, you will: develop characteristics of a model for the hydrogen atom. test different models, comparing them to your model and your observations. Go to . Click “Run Now”. Make sure the dial is set on and the Light Control set on “Experiment” “White”. The gun is used to shoot light photons (energy bundles). Each circle from the gun represents a photon corresponding to that color (with fuzzy purple representing UV). The box with a question mark represents a hydrogen atom. Predict what will happen to the photons as they pass through the hydrogen atom. Be sure to address what will happen to each different photon color. Give a justification for your prediction. Push the on the gun and write down your observations of what happens as the photons pass through the box. red “O” button Watch for at least two minutes. Be specific, covering everything you observe. List each photon color separately. Do your observations match your prediction from question 2c? What conclusions can you make about the structure of the hydrogen atom? Your conclusion should address as many of your observations as possible. Once you have made your conclusion, you will use them to formulate a model of the hydrogen atom. Based on what you observed, what characteristics must the hydrogen atom have? Justify each component by addressing which of the above observations this characteristic addresses. For example, if no photons passed through the box, then you would infer that the hydrogen atom must have a rigid wall around it. Now move the switch in the upper right corner to The simulation has gives you six possible models of the hydrogen “Prediction”. atom. Fire the gun at each of the models. What observations can you make about the photons or the hydrogen atom? Specific atomic Observations How do these observations How do these observations model tested support the experimental results in support your model in question 5? the first part?
Using the PhET hydrogen atom simulation to test ideas from classical and quantum physics Scientists make observations of the world around them. Based on those observations, they often develop models of the phenomena they observe. In this activity, you will: develop characteristics of a model for the hydrogen atom. test different models, comparing them to your model and your observations. Go to . Click “Run Now”. Make sure the dial is set on “Experiment” and the Light Control set on “White”. The gun is used to shoot light photons (energy bundles). Each circle from the gun represents a photon corresponding to that color (with fuzzy purple representing UV). The box with a question mark represents a hydrogen atom. Predict what will happen to the photons as they pass through the hydrogen atom. Be sure to address what will happen to each different photon color. Give a justification for your prediction. Push the red “O” button on the gun and write down your observations of what happens as the photons pass through the box. Watch for at least two minutes. Be specific, covering everything you observe. List each photon color separately. Do your observations match your prediction from question 2c? What conclusions can you make about the structure of the hydrogen atom? Your conclusion should address as many of your observations as possible. Once you have made your conclusion, you will use them to formulate a model of the hydrogen atom. Based on what you observed, what characteristics must the hydrogen atom have? Justify each component by addressing which of the above observations this characteristic addresses. For example, if no photons passed through the box, then you would infer that the hydrogen atom must have a rigid wall around it. Now move the switch in the upper right corner to “Prediction”. The simulation has gives you six possible models of the hydrogen atom. Fire the gun at each of the models. What observations can you make about the photons or the hydrogen atom? Specific atomic model tested Observations How do these observations support the experimental results in the first part? How do these observations support your model in question 5?
03_lab-models_of_hydrogen_phet_aw.docx