Webquest: Dividing the Indivisible

From 1803 to 1897, scientists continued to discover new elements and explain the behavior of matter in terms of the fundamental, indivisible particles. Like Democritus, Dalton and other scientists of his day agreed that these solid bits of matter could not be divided or cut into any smaller, more fundamental particles. Why should they believe otherwise? Treating atoms as solid bits of matter allowed them to explain a wide range of properties and behaviors of matter.

This understanding changed dramatically in 1897 with the discovery of the first subatomic particle. Complete the Webquest to discover the subatomic particles that were discovered between 1897 and 1932, the stories of how they were discovered, and the names and backgrounds of the people who discovered them.

Submit your completed assignment to the Webquest: Dividing the Indivisible assignment link for grading. For more information on how this assignment will be graded, please view the Webquest: Dividing the Indivisible rubric.