Classroom Models of Particle Systems

Abstract

The classroom models described provide means for illustrating many of the important behavior characteristics of the particles which form nuclei, atoms, molecules, gases, and crystals. The particles are represented by magnets which collide only through the interaction of field forces, and which move about with very little loss of energy. As a consequence, the behavior of a system may be observed through many particle collisions with but little attenuation in the system energy. The model is effective in demonstrating such behavior as the movement of electrons in the atom, the random motion of gas molecules, the thermalizing of neutrons, and the movement of electrons in crystals. Although the demonstration is restricted to classical behavior, it aids in the presentation of the quantum nature of matter.