Tiny Tubes

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
In this activity, learners make "totally tubular" forms of carbon. Learners use chicken wire to build macro models of carbon nanotubes. Depending on how they roll the wire, they will discover three different forms of nanotubes, each with different properties. Learners can also make a paper buckyball by downloading the linked template.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$10 - $20 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 11 - 18
Resource Types:
Activity, Model
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

Keywords

Subjects

  • Engineering and Technology
    • Engineering
      • Nanotechnology
  • Mathematics
    • Algebra
      • Patterns
    • Geometry
      • Plane Geometry
    • Measurement
      • Size and Scale
    • Representation
  • Physical Sciences
    • Chemistry
      • Chemical Bonding
    • Structure and Properties of Matter
      • Atomic Structure
      • Elements and Periodic Table
      • Elementary Particles and Nuclear Physics
  • The Nature of Science
    • The Scientific Process
      • Conducting Investigations

Informal Categories

  • Model Building

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • see color
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Components that are part of this resource:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

  • Yu, Julie

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, Exploratorium, 2010

Funding Sources:

  • National Science Foundation, 0610238
  • National Science Foundation, 0925383