Activity

The big difference

Objectives:
After
performing
this
activity, you should be able
to:
1. compare the masses of
the subatomic particles
using different ways of
visual representation
2. infer which subatomic
particle contributes to the
mass of the atom

Materials Needed:
pencil/pen
crayons or colored pencils

Procedure:
1. Refer to the masses of the subatomic particles in Table 2. Arrange the subatomic particles in increasing
mass.
Q1. Which subatomic particle is the lightest?
Q2. Which subatomic particle is the heaviest?
Q3. Which subatomic particles have almost the same mass?

2. Show a comparison of the masses of the three subatomic particles using a bar graph. Refer to Figure 2
in the next page, assuming that the first bar represents the mass of the proton; draw the bars to
represent the masses of the neutron and the electron. Take note that the masses are expressed in the
-28 exponent.
3. This time, using a pie chart, show the proportion of the masses of the subatomic particles for an atom
composed of only 1 proton, 1 neutron and 1 electron.
4. A seesaw can show a comparison between two masses of an object. A seesaw
goes up and down depending on the mass it carries on each side.
Q4. How does the mass of the neutron compare with the mass of the proton? Using
circles to represent the particles show the comparison by drawing a seesaw
with the particles on it.
Q5. How many electrons should be placed on one side of the seesaw to balance it if the other side has 1
proton on it, like the one shown below? Write the number on the space provided in the illustration below.
_____ e-

1p+

5. Take a look again at the different visual representations you have made.

Q6. Which subatomic particle/s make/s up most of the mass of the atom?