OBJECT:
To determine the effect of a magnet on the path of a steel ball. ( Where to obtain steel balls, bearings from discarded bike wheels, discarded skate boards, may be a bike shop. Used bearings from a Gasoline repair shop. )
MATERIALS:
Plexiglass ( Say 10 by 8 inches ) Three steel balls of varying size, Magnet, Graph paper and Tape.
PROCEDURE AND OBSERVATION:
1. Tape a sheet of graph paper to the underside of the Plexiglass plate.
2. Raise one end of the Plexiglass plate to about 2 inches with a book.
3. Place a book in front of the Plexiglass plate to keep it from sliding.
4. Hold a steel ball at the upper edge ( left or right ) of the Plexiglass plate.
5. Release the ball and observe the path it follows.
6. Repeat this a number of times until you get a consistent observation.
7. Repeat the procedure with the magnet held about 1/4 inch to one side of the original path of the ball, about half way down the plate.
8. Repeat this procedure with all three steel balls.
9. Describe the path of each steel ball and sketch a diagram of each path.
QUESTIONS:
1. How does the mass of the rolling ball influence the results?
2. Which steel ball has been least effected by the magnet?
3. Which steel ball has been most effected by the magnet?
4. How can you use the results of this experiment to help explain how isotopes of elements were first detected.
5. Define isotope -
6. Do neutrons effect the atomic weight of an atom?
7. Write a formula for finding the finding the atomic weight of an atom?
8. Define mass number.
9. What information can you find in the ' Periodic Table' ?
10. Draw a diagram of sodium - 25.
11. How many protons does an atom of sodium - 25 contain?
12. How many electrons does an atom of sodium - 25 contain?
13. Thomson is credited with what discovery ?
14. What are the four criteria of a good theory?
15. Was Dalton's atomic theory a good theory ?
16. How did Rutherford's concept of the atom differ from Dalton's ?
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