This project covers the history of how the atom was discovered, and how our understanding of atomic nature has changed over time.  Many scientists have contributed smaller discoveries to this understanding, all of which are compiled into models used to represent what an atom is.  Over time, these models have gotten more complex, leading to a better understanding of what an atom is and how it works.

In your project you will be responsible for sharing information about one of the scientists listed below so we understand what their contribution was towards atomic structure, and how they were able to make their discovery via experimentation.

• Democritus and Leucippus

• John Dalton

• Marie and Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel

• JJ Thomson

• Earnest Rutherford

• Robert Millikan

• Niels Bohr

• James Chadwick

• Louis deBroglie

• Heisenberg

• Erwin Schrodinger

Use this link for detailed instructions on what your group is responsible for in this project.

You will be responsible for knowing what each scientist discovered, as well as any experiment that was performed in the process of that discovery.  Each presenting group is responsible for creating a presentation and a single page document coovering the core ideas of their presentation.  You will recieve copies of these notes to help prepare for our Unit 2 test.

Here is the rubric I will use when grading your presentations.  When creating and preparing for your presentation, use this to ID what will translate into the best possible grade for your presentations.

When preparing for the Unit 2 Test you will need to study these individual scientists and know the following information:

• What did each scientist discover?

• What experiment did they perform? (not all of them had experiments)

  • Be able to explain a given diagram of that experiment

  • Be able to explain how the collected data led to the discovery of the atom

Check out this presentation for tips on making an effective slideshow.  Key components like graphics and text density can make th difference between a professional vs an amateur looking presentation.  These are skills that you should ALWAYS be developing throughout your career!

You are responsible for this information on our upcoming test.  You will receive handouts from each presenting group that should summarize this information as study material.  You may also use this slideshow I have created in previous years that covers many of the scientists that you are responsible for.  Here is a timeline that shows the process of these discoveries, as well as some simple details for each step along the way.