Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Cover the work area with newspaper to protect the table from paint spills. Arrange a 3-inch foam ball and 26 one-inch foam balls on the work area. Use paintbrushes and craft paint to paint the larger ball, which represents the nucleus, yellow. Paint 16 of the smaller balls green and the other 10 blue. Note that the colors are merely to make the layers of electrons more distinct later and don't represent two different groups of electrons. Allow the paint to dry.
Lay the 11-inch metal hoop on the table. Use wire cutters to cut a notch through one side of the hoop. Note that the sides around the notch should be able to pull apart but there shouldn't be a large gap. Repeat with the, 9-inch, 7-inch and 5-inch hoops.
Pry apart the sides on the 5-inch hoop around the notch. Slide a green small foam ball onto one of the sides by firmly pushing the ball against the metal until it punctures and passes through the ball. Repeat with one more green ball and then set that hoop aside.
Slide eight small blue balls onto the 7-inch hoop. Place 14 green balls onto the 9-inch hoop. Finish by sliding two blue balls onto the 11-inch hoop.
Set the hoops so they are stacked within each other on the table, with the largest hoop on the outside and the smallest in the center. Loop fishing line around a spot on the 11-inch hoop that's between balls and away from the notch. Tie a knot and tug to make sure the line is firm. Pass the same length of fishing line in to the 9-inch hoop, creating a knot to tie the two hoops together. Continue until you reach the smallest hoop, knot and then cut off excess.
Stick a straightened wire hanger through the center of the large yellow ball. Use wire cutters to trim the wire, leaving only 2 inches sticking out of both sides. Create loops on both sides using pliers. Bend each piece of wire at a 90-degree angle. Work them around, using your pliers and fingers, until they form loops. Wrap excess wire around the base of the loops for security.
Knot a piece of fishing line around one wire loop sticking out of the nucleus ball. Tie the other end of the line to the smallest, inner hoop to connect the pieces.
Use a clean paintbrush and purple paint to write "P: 26 N: 30" on the nucleus ball to represent the protons and neutrons present. Allow the paint to dry. Display the model by slipping the outermost ring onto the display hook, allowing the other hoops and the nucleus ball to dangle down.