Seeing the invisible
In this activity, students collect and record data and use it to create 2D and 3D images of an unseen surface. They will then understand some of the processes involved in mapping the unknown.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
use a probe to scan data points of a hidden surface
create a data sheet for the hidden surface
use the data to create 2D and 3D images of the hidden surface
briefly explain how nanotechnologists use tools to create images of things at the nanoscale.
Atomic force microscope
In this video Professor Richard Haverkamp explains how an atomic force microscope works, including is a short animation of the basic mechanism.
Select here to view video transcript and copyright information.
Download the Word file for:
introduction/background notes
what you need
what to do
discussion questions
student handout.
Related content
Seeing atoms explains how powerful microscopes have opened up this field of research.
Find out more about how microscopes magnify and The microscopic scale. These videos look at how scanning tunnelling microscope and atomic force microscopes work.
Learn more about remote sensing with these articles:
Activity ideas
Probing fridge magnets – in this activity, students investigate the pattern of magnetic fields on a fridge magnet. This will give them an idea of the principle behind scanning probe and magnetic force microscopes.
In the Multibeam seafloor survey activity, students create a model seafloor and create a map of it through taking depth readings.
Modelling animal cells in 3D imitates what can be seen under high-resolution microscopes. Using lolly slices to build 3D images and Using shadows to build 3D images model how scientists interpret microscopic data.
