Crystal Packin' Mama

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
In this activity, learners investigate the basic crystal structures that metal atoms form. Learners construct models of crystals using Styrofoam balls and learn about hexagonal close packing (HCP) and face centered cubic (FCC) packing.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
45 to 60 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$5 - $10 per student
Age Range:
Ages 14 - adult
Resource Types:
Activity, Model
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • 26 Styrofoam balls, about 1.5 inches in diameter
  • 16 toothpicks (round)

Keywords

Subjects

  • Engineering and Technology
    • Engineering
      • Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
      • Nanotechnology
  • Physical Sciences
    • Chemistry
      • Chemical Bonding
    • States of Matter
      • Solids
    • Structure and Properties of Matter
      • Atomic Structure
      • Volume and Density

Informal Categories

  • Arts and Crafts
  • Model Building

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • see color
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Funding Sources:

  • National Science Foundation Education and Human Resource Directorate, ESI 92-53386
  • National Science Foundation Center for Advanced Cement Based Materials
  • Dow Chemical Foundation
  • Materials Research Society
  • Iron and Steel Society
  • Peoria Chapter of the American Society for Metals