Special Issue 19
In This Issue
Flying Over Atoms CD-ROM
	John R. Markham
About This Issue: Flying Over Atoms CD-ROM
Jon L. Holmes and Nancy S. Gettys University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
Note:	Order Item Number: SP-19 Ordering Information
Flying Over Atoms is one of JCE Software's most interesting and unusual publications. It represents a partnership between a dedicated high school teacher and a team of research scientists that should be an inspiration to teachers and researchers alike. The original submission of data files for Vistapro and a few introductory images blossomed into an exciting collection of information, images, and movies that allows students to experience surfaces at the atomic level, even without Vistapro. Reviewer Comments Our reviewers (experienced computer-oriented chemistry educators) had this to say about Flying Over Atoms: "I would very much like to see this program published. I believe it is a very creative application of Vistapro. My high school students were very curious about each picture." "Probably lots of us have been using STM images in our introductory classes to make the existence of atoms more believable to skeptical students. The animations present in this submission make the images much more interesting--the motion adding to the 3D perception. I think it's also nice that the STM data was obtained from an honest-to-goodness researcher---almost pioneer--in the STM field." "I have to say this is one of the most interesting and innovative submissions to JCE Software IÕve seen in a long time. Bravo to the author." How to Use this CD-ROM Flying Over Atoms is appropriate for use in introductory chemistry classes. Instructors can use the images and introduction as lecture aids when introducing solids and surfaces. The materials are also appropriate for independent use by individual students or groups of students. The images and movies will allow students to explore many aspects of solid surfaces. If they have access to Vistapro, students can explore the surfaces on their own, finding and identifying interesting surface features. A close-up perspective of the surface of silver. Each step has vertical height of 2.5 angstroms. Individual atoms are not resolved due to the "sea of electrons" characteristic of a metal. Students need guidance as they use the materials in Flying Over Atoms. The instructor should become familiar with STM by using the materials in Flying Over Atoms and then present an explanation to students. It is the author's experience that high school students will not sit down with materials like Flying Over Atoms and go through all the reference materials independently. The materials must be presented to them in an interesting and thought provoking way. Then, they will enthusiastically explore the STM images, Vistapro atomic landscapes, and make movies. The lesson plan on the CD will help in developing such a presentation. Development History The author became familiar with Vistapro when he used the data for Mars included on the Vistapro CD with his physics students. He wondered if the elevation data from a scanning tunneling microscope could be used with Vistapro. A data translation utility made this possible. The resulting data files, images, and movies evolved into the Flying Over Atoms CD. Additional Information Vistapro is a product of Rom Tech, Inc., 2000 Cabot Blvd., Suite 110, Langhorne, PA 19047; phone: 1-215-750-6606; WWW: http://www.romt.com/Products/lifestyle.html. Versions are available for Mac OS, Windows, and DOS. Vistapro can be ordered from the publisher for $69.95, and is also available from many retail software vendors. Hardware and Software Requirements Computer  CPU RAM Drives Graphics System Software Software Included  Software  Not Included  Mac OS compatible   68030 or greater or Power Macintosh  16 MB  Hard disk,  2 x CD-ROM   256 colors, 640  x 480  System 7 or later  QuickTime, Acrobat Reader WWW Browser, Vistapro (optional) Windows compatible  80386 or higher or Pentium  12 MB   Hard disk, 2 x CD-ROM 256 colors, 640  x 480, SVGA   Windows 98/95 or Windows 3.1 QuickTime, Acrobat Reader  WWW Browser, Vistapro (optional) Acknowledgement Bob Hamers of the University of WisconsinÐMadison Department of Chemistry was very helpful to the author during the development of Flying Over Atoms. Members of his research group including Harry Chen, Ernie Frank, and Steve Higgins contributed STM data and images. The introduction to STM included in Flying Over Atoms was written by Ernie Frank. John Hinkley, author of Vistapro, wrote a translation utility that allowed translation of RAW STM data into the DEM format that Vistapro requires. The students of Laconia High School, past and present, helped test and work the bugs out of Flying Over Atoms. QuickTime movies created by some of these students are included in Flying Over Atoms. Availability Available: Now

First Published: February 1998

Citation: Holmes, J. L.; Gettys, N. S. About This Issue: Flying Over Atoms CD-ROM J. Chem. Educ. Software SP19

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