Learn to identify different molecular shapes, to understand the interactions that create these shapes, and how to predict a molecule's shape given certain information about it. Explore these concepts using three-dimensional computer models and answer a series of questions to reinforce your understanding.

In this activity, students interact with 12 models to observe emergent phenomena as molecules assemble themselves. Investigate the factors that are important to self-assembly, including shape and polarity. Try to assemble a monolayer by "pushing" the molecules to the substrate (it's not easy!). Rotate complex molecules to view their structure. Finally, create your own nanostructures by selecting molecules, adding charges to them, and observing the results of self-assembly.

Add various unknown molecules to oil and water, and observe how the molecules sort themselves in response to interactions with the surrounding environment.

Explore the structure of a gas at the molecular level. Molecules are always in motion. Molecules in a gas move quickly. All molecules are attracted to each other. Molecules can be weakly or strongly attracted to each other. The way that large molecules interact in physical, chemical and biological applications is a direct consequence of the many tiny attractions of the smaller parts.

Explore the structure of a liquid at the molecular level. Molecules are always in motion. Molecules in a liquid move moderately. All molecules are attracted to each other. Molecules can be weakly or strongly attracted to each other. The way that large molecules interact in physical, chemical and biological applications is a direct consequence of the many tiny attractions of the smaller parts.

Explore the structure of a solid at the molecular level. Molecules are always in motion, though molecules in a solid move slowly. All molecules are attracted to each other. Molecules can be weakly or strongly attracted to each other. The way that large molecules interact in physical, chemical and biological applications is a direct consequence of the many tiny attractions of the smaller parts.

Created by the Concord Consortium, the Molecular Workbench is "a modeling tool for designing and conducting computational experiments across science." First-time visitors can check out one of the Featured Simulations to get started. The homepage contains a number of curriculum modules which deal with chemical bonding, semiconductors, and diffusion. Visitors can learn how to create their own simulations via the online manual, which is available here as well. The Articles area is quite helpful, as it contains full-text pieces on nanoscience education, quantum chemistry, and a primer on how transistors work. A good way to look over all of the offerings here is to click on the Showcase area. Here visitors can view the Featured simulations, or look through one of five topical sections, which include Biotech and Nanotechnology. Visitors will need to install the free Molecular Workbench software, which is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac.

Study the motion of a toy car on a ramp and use motion sensors to digitally graph the position data and then analyze it. Make predictions about what the graphs will look like, and consider what the corresponding velocity graphs would look like.

Explore how changing the DNA sequence can change the amino acid sequence of a protein. Proteins are composed of long strings of amino acids. Proteins are coded for in the DNA. DNA is composed of four different types of nucleotides. Converting the information in DNA into protein is a two-step process, involving transcription and translation. In transcription each mRNA nucleotide pairs with the complementary DNA nucleotide. In translation, each tRNA nucleotide pairs with the complementary mRNA nucleotide. Thus, a change in the DNA sequence can change the amino acid sequence of the protein. There are three basic types of mutations: insertion, deletion and substitution. Some mutations are silent, meaning that there is no change in the protein, while others can cause major changes in the protein.

Access and explore large datasets from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2003). Working with large datasets that emphasize exploration, finding patterns, and modeling is an essential first step in becoming fluent with data. This activity is a great place for students to start, since the dataset is straightforward and students can decide on the data they want to explore, including height, age, weight, and many other health-related attributes. Students begin by selecting and then investigating subsets of the dataset, for example, to find the cholesterol level of U.S. citizens. Then, working with their classmates or individually, students can try their own data science challenges, such as finding health trends in a subset of Americans by their household income, age, or marital status, etc.
This activity is embedded in the Common Online Data Analysis Platform (CODAP). Learn more about teaching with CODAP, or use the Getting Started in CODAP tutorial.

Access and explore large datasets from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2003). Working with large datasets that emphasize exploration, finding patterns, and modeling is an essential first step in becoming fluent with data. This activity is a great place for students to start, since the dataset is straightforward and students can decide on the data they want to explore, including height, age, weight, and many other health-related attributes. Students begin by selecting and then investigating subsets of the dataset, for example, to find the cholesterol level of U.S. citizens. Then, working with their classmates or individually, students can try their own data science challenges, such as finding health trends in a subset of Americans by their household income, age, or marital status, etc.

Compare the electron distribution, potential energy, and forces of two interacting hydrogen atoms (which can bond) with two helium atoms (which do not).

Explore the interactions that cause water and oil to separate from a mixture. Oil is a non-polar molecule, while water is a polar molecule. While all molecules are attracted to each other, some attractions are stronger than others. Non-polar molecules are attracted through a London dispersion attraction; polar molecules are attracted through both the London dispersion force and the stronger dipole-dipole attraction. When oil and water are mixed, the dipole-dipole interactions are disrupted, but constant molecular motion allows the stronger dipole-dipole attractions to partition the polar molecules from the mixture. The force of attractions between molecules has consequences for their interactions in physical, chemical and biological applications.

Change the charge on spheres to positive or negative and observe how charges affect the interaction between them.

How does an object's speed change as it falls through the atmosphere? When first learning about how objects fall, usually just one force--gravity--is considered. Such a simplification only accurately describes falling motion in a vacuum. This model of a parachute carrying a load incorporates a second force--air resistance--and allows experimentation with two variables that affect its speed: the size of the parachute and the mass of its load. This model graphs both the parachute's height above the Earth's surface and its speed after it is released. Motion continues until a constant speed is achieved, the terminal velocity.

All the "stuff" that is around us, we call matter. Matter is made of either atoms or molecules much too small to see. We give these basic building blocks the general name of particles. Particles exist in three basic states: solids, liquids, and gases. Explore the characteristics of a gas from a molecular viewpoint.

All the "stuff' that is around us, we call matter. Matter is made of either atoms or molecules much too small to see. We give these basic building blocks the general name of particles. Particles exist in three basic states: solids, liquids, and gases. Explore the characteristics of a liquid from a molecular viewpoint.

All the "stuff" that is around us, we call matter. Matter is made of either atoms or molecules much too small to see. We give these basic building blocks of matter the general name of particles. Particles exist in three basic states: solids, liquids, and gases. Explore the characteristics of a solid from a molecular viewpoint.

Explore the factors that affect a pendulum's motion. A pendulum is a weight hung from a fixed point. Pendulums swing back and forth in a regular motion known as a period. The length of the period is affected by the pendulum itself. Experiment by changing the length of the string/rod, the mass of the weight, the angle at which the pendulum is released and the friction (or damping force) exerted on the pendulum. Which of these factors affect the period of the pendulum?

Explore the motion of a pendulum suspended by a spring. A pendulum is a weight hung from a fixed point. Pendulums swing back and forth in a regular motion known as a period. The period of a pendulum is affected by the length of the string/rod. A spring is a resilient device that can be pressed or pulled but return to its original shape when released. Springs are commonly helical coiled metal devices. When a spring is compressed or stretched and then released, it will vibrate at a particular frequency. This frequency is called the period of the spring. The period of a spring is affected by the spring constant (a measure of the elasticity of the coils). How does a pendulum behave when the length of the spring that suspends the mass is constantly changing?