My daughter needs to build an atom with electrons flying about, and I was just wondering what's a good wire for the electrons? We're going to paint chestnuts from a tree, as the protons and neutrons and then put acorns as the electrons. But what's a good wire that will be ROUND? I have plenty of baling wire, and coat hanger, but, getting it round is the problem. Any simple ideas?

You are in luck, the christmas stuff is out. Get some wire wreath frames. They are about 10 gauge steel wire, rolled into a perfect circle. Usually there is an inner and outer ring connected by short legs.. Just cut them free with a dremel or a good wire cutter.

Reporting back, and thanks for your help. Here's her project, where a single tomoto wire cage was turned into the standing and hanging (either way) model of the silicon atom. Protons are the walnuts. Neutrons are the chestnuts. And pumpkin seeds (much smaller than acorns) are electrons. The first energy level (1s2 orbital) is further from the second energy level (2s2,2p6 orbitals) which itself is closest to the third energy level (3s2,3p4 orbitals). The other kids' projects are shown here, where most didn't even try to create round loops which are 3D in shape.

What is a good circular loop of metal for a science project atom?

Nov 10, 2014 21 Replies

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Tom Wilson 11 years ago

Tom Wilson wrote, on Mon, 10 Nov 2014 06:06:01 +0000:

Thanks for your advice so far on the nutty science project:

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We have the nucleus of Silicon (14 protons, 14 neutrons, 14 electrons):

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Somehow, we're going to suspend the nucleus amongst three circular loops of metal (of the type you suggested):

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Not sure how we're going to do that, but, that's the next step.

The next task will be spacing out the three orbitals, in 3D, somehow:

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Tom Wilson 11 years ago

Reporting back, and thanks for your help.

Here's her project, where a single tomoto wire cage was turned into the standing and hanging (either way) model of the silicon atom.

formatting link

Protons are the walnuts. Neutrons are the chestnuts. And pumpkin seeds (much smaller than acorns) are electrons.

formatting link

The first energy level (1s2 orbital) is further from the second energy level (2s2,2p6 orbitals) which itself is closest to the third energy level (3s2,3p4 orbitals).

The other kids' projects are shown here, where most didn't even try to create round loops which are 3D in shape.

formatting link

Vote

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