Curated OER
Nuclear Reactions - Rutherford's Alpha Scattering Experiment
Neat! Show your physics class exactly how Ernest Rutherford fired alpha particles at a piece of gold foil and so determined that most of an atom is composed of empty space. Not just a slide show, but almost an animation, this...
Curated OER
Evidence Revealing the Composition of the Atom
Investigators use indirect evidence to guess what is occupying a sealed box. You could also use a set of plastic Easter eggs to encase the unknown items. Another terrific activity involves having students drop a pencil on a sheet of...
Concord Consortium
Concentrating Charge and Electric Fields
How did Rutherford determine that the nucleus was the center of an atom? Take a look inside the famous Gold Foil Experiment with an interesting interactive. Learners fire a beam of alpha particles at a nucleus containing variable...
LABScI
The Rutherford Atomic Model: Hidden Obstacles
Historically, scientists had to be creative to study subatomic structure. Scholars step into their minds to recreate the procedure Rutherford used to create his atomic model. Learners identify the creative efforts of early scientists...
Center for Applied Linguistics
Chemical Interactions: Atoms and Bonding
Watch budding chemists interact with the resource on chemical interactions. In the unit, six lessons provide an overview of basic chemistry, from understanding the development of atomic theory to distinguishing between ionic and covalent...
Curated OER
Review Models of the Atom
Multiple representations of the varying theories of atomic structure. With these pictures and some background of the theories and scientific figures surrounding them, your class will develop a better understanding of scientific history...
Curated OER
Atomic Models
Your students should enjoy this slideshow which includes some basic definitions about the atomic structure of atoms. In fact, this presentation would be best-viewed before giving details and diagrams of neutrons, protons and quarks. The...
Curated OER
Nuclear Reactions Answers to Questions
Written to accompany another slide show available through our site, the information here gives the history and trivia connected to nuclear decay research. This slide show concentrates on the definitions and theory of nuclear fission and...
Curated OER
Mystery : Structure of the Atom-A Case for Indirect Evidence
Learners investigate the structure of the atom through hands on activities. In this atomic structure lesson plan, students perform 4 activities showing indirect evidence of the structure of the atom and the parts of the atom. They also...
Curated OER
Structure of the Atom
High schoolers observe 3 models that show Dalton, Thomson and Rutherford's theories of the structure of the atom. In this structure of the atom lesson plan, students observe each model and write a summary of each theory of the atom.
Curated OER
History of the Atom Quiz Review
In this history of the atom activity, students answer questions about Thomson's cathode ray apparatus, Rutherford's gold foil experiment and Dalton's beliefs about the atom. Students identify the number of protons, neutrons and electrons...
Curated OER
Understanding the Rutherford Model
In this Rutherford model worksheet, students read about Rutherford's experiment with gold foil and alpha particles which led to the discovery of subatomic particles. Students answer six analysis questions about the experiment and...
Curated OER
Inside an Atom
In this atom worksheet, students read about the history of the discovery of the atom. Students write a story, poem, song or other creative project in which they shrink to an incredibly small size and are trapped in a carbon atom.
Curated OER
Worksheet 4-1 Atomic Spectra
In this atomic spectra worksheet, students answer eighteen questions about wavelengths of light, the emission spectrum, energy of photons, the frequency of electromagnetic radiation and electrons in the excited state.
Curated OER
Early History of the Atom Homework
In this early history of the atom worksheet, learners answer 4 questions about Thomson's Plum Pudding model of the atom and Rutherford's experiment that led to the understanding of some of the structures of the atom.
Curated OER
Review for Chemistry
In this review for chemistry worksheet, students decide if given statements are true or false. Students relate information learned about introductory knowledge gained in chemistry to accurately answer the given questions.
Curated OER
Activity Three -- Rutherford's Discovery (Student Page ) A Lab Experiment in Physics
This discovery student page offers students an opportunity to work as a team to discover the shape of an object they cannot see. It is an experiment which parallels particle physicists dilemma in not being able to see very small...
Curated OER
Discovering the Structure of the Atom
Students investigate atomic and nuclear structure of matter by researching historical atomic theories. Students examine Rutherford's studies and discover that many scientific conclusions change over time as new data is collected.
Florida State University
Florida State University: The Rutherford Experiment
A simulation of the Rutherford experiment. Includes an animation and an explanation of the history behind the experiment.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Berkeley Lab: Lawrence and His Laboratory
This website gives a complete description of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory's early years. The development of Lawrence's first and subsequent cyclotrons are chronicled.
Science Museum, London
Science Museum: Online Stuff: Atomic Firsts
Read about three famous British atomic physicists, each of whom won a Nobel Prize. J.J. Thompson discovered the electron, Ernest Rutherford successfully split an atom, and George Paget Thomson proved that electrons had wave-like properties.
PBS
Pbs: People & Discoveries: Ernest Rutherford
A lovely biographical piece about Ernest Rutherford. A number of personal notes, along with extensive information about the physics work he did. Nice quote at the end.
Other
Le Moyne College:elements & Atoms, Indivisible No Longer
Click to read different historical documents in chemistry related to the history of the study and discovery of radioactivity.
Boise State University
Boise State University: Atoms: A Virtual Field Trip Through Time and Space
Learn about the models of the atom that have been proposed throughout history. Presents Democritus, John Dalton, J.J. Thomson, Ernest Rutherford, Niels Bohr, and the modern theory of the atom. Sections are accompanied by journal...