Nanotechnology Objectives
The following is a list of the four nanoscience objectives that are targeted in our unit, and each objective is followed by a description of the student activities that support it.
Size and Scale
1) Learners will be able to relate the size of nano-sized objects to objects encountered in daily life (macro scale).
Learners will accomplish this objective by investigating the relationships between nanometers and real-world objects through the "How big am I?" activity.
2) Learners will be able to apply dimensional analysis in conversion problems.
Learners will accomplish this objective by utilizing their knowledge of dimensional analysis to convert between nanometers and meters through a "Nanometer Scaling Activity".
Structure of Matter
3) Learners will compare surface-area-to-volume ratios of different sized objects and explain that surface-area-to-volume ratios play a role in the unique properties of objects at the nanoscale.
Learners will meet this objective by using their mathematical understanding of surface area and volume to develop a comparison between the surface area to volume ratio and the size of objects through a "Surface Area and Volume of Various Sized Cubes" activity.
Forces and Interactions
4) Learners will be able to explain why (intensive) properties of matter can change at the nanoscale (for example: properties like boiling point, reactivity, malleability, fluorescence, magnetism).
Learners will meet this objective by writing reflections reporting their findings during a comparison of gravitational and electromagnetic forces for an electron and a proton.
Size and Scale
1) Learners will be able to relate the size of nano-sized objects to objects encountered in daily life (macro scale).
Learners will accomplish this objective by investigating the relationships between nanometers and real-world objects through the "How big am I?" activity.
2) Learners will be able to apply dimensional analysis in conversion problems.
Learners will accomplish this objective by utilizing their knowledge of dimensional analysis to convert between nanometers and meters through a "Nanometer Scaling Activity".
Structure of Matter
3) Learners will compare surface-area-to-volume ratios of different sized objects and explain that surface-area-to-volume ratios play a role in the unique properties of objects at the nanoscale.
Learners will meet this objective by using their mathematical understanding of surface area and volume to develop a comparison between the surface area to volume ratio and the size of objects through a "Surface Area and Volume of Various Sized Cubes" activity.
Forces and Interactions
4) Learners will be able to explain why (intensive) properties of matter can change at the nanoscale (for example: properties like boiling point, reactivity, malleability, fluorescence, magnetism).
Learners will meet this objective by writing reflections reporting their findings during a comparison of gravitational and electromagnetic forces for an electron and a proton.