How the model of the atom changed
Grade 10 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.
A hydrogen electron drops from n = 3 to n = 2 (rules on the sheet note). What wavelength does its photon have, to the nearest nm, Ari?
A hydrogen electron drops from n = 4 to n = 1 (rules on the sheet note). What wavelength does its photon have, to the nearest nm, Bo?
A hydrogen electron drops from n = 7 to n = 2 (rules on the sheet note). What wavelength does its photon have, to the nearest nm, Esme?
The 1926 quantum model fits helium, which Bohr's model could not. What did it keep from Bohr and what did it drop, Jun?
- Kept: nothing, since a new model must start over from entirely new evidence each time
- Kept: fixed circular paths. Dropped: set energy levels, since electrons can have any energy
- Kept: set energy levels. Dropped: fixed circular paths, now clouds of likely positions
Read this first
Hydrogen's energy levels in Bohr's model (from E = −13.6 ÷ n²)
level n energy (eV) 1 −13.60 2 −3.40 3 −1.51 4 −0.85 A 14.0 eV photon hits hydrogen in level 1 (−13.60 eV on the card). What happens, Luz?
- Nothing happens, since 14.0 eV does not match the gap to any level
- The electron is freed and carries off the extra 0.4 eV as motion
- The electron jumps to level 2 and keeps 3.8 eV as extra energy
A student writes: Rutherford proved electrons orbit the nucleus like planets. Using the gold-foil results, what is the best verdict, Milo?
- Supported: the large turns were caused by orbiting electrons pulling on the particles
- Supported: a nucleus at the center means electrons must circle it like planets
- Not supported: foil results locate the positive charge but not how electrons move
A student says: Dalton's model was replaced, so none of it is still used. Which reply is best supported, Noah?
- Right: once a model is replaced, each of its ideas is discarded with it
- Overstated: whole-number ratios of atoms and rearranged atoms in reactions still hold
- Right, since Dalton knew nothing about electrons or the nucleus when he wrote it
A gold atom is about 3 × 10⁻¹⁰ m wide and its nucleus about 1.4 × 10⁻¹⁴ m (rounded). If the nucleus were a 1.4 cm marble, how wide would the atom be, Ren?
- About 30 m
- About 3,000 m
- About 300 m
Which model explains which observation (summary of the sheet)
observation Dalton Thomson Rutherford Bohr compounds form in whole-number ratios yes yes yes yes electrons come out of atoms no yes yes yes particles bounce back from foil no no yes yes hydrogen gives only a few colors no no no yes helium gives its own pattern of colors no no no no Tala reads the table. Which statement does it support?
- Bohr's model explains every row in the table, including the helium row
- Thomson's model explains why alpha particles bounce back from the gold foil
- Each model explained every row its predecessor did; none explains helium's colors
Card
Thomson's model (example numbers). Each atom bends an alpha particle by at most 0.01 degrees, in a random direction. Random bends add like the square root of their count. The foil is 1,000 atoms thick.
Using the card, which argument shows Thomson's model cannot give a 90 degree turn, Zee?
- Even with all 1,000 bends in line, the total is 10 degrees; random ones give 0.3
- Random bends cancel completely, so the total would be exactly zero, not 90 degrees
- 1,000 bends of 0.01 degrees easily add to 100 degrees, enough for a 90 degree turn

