Constructing Cost-Effective Crystal Structures with Table Tennis Balls and Tape That Allows Students To Assemble and Model Multiple Unit Cells

Abstract

In this letter we present an innovative and cost-effective method of constructing crystal structures using Dual Lock fastening adhesive tape with table tennis (ping pong) balls. The use of these fasteners allows the balls to be easily assembled into layers to model various crystal structures and unit cells and then completely disassembled again. We have found that this method allows us to challenge the students in a hands-on activity where they construct the structures from single balls and not preconstructed layers. Furthermore, this method enables students to construct the body centered unit cell which is difficult to do with glue and table tennis balls.

Imparting Materials Science Knowledge in the Field of the Crystal Structure of Metals in Times of Online Teaching: A Novel Online Laboratory Teaching Concept with an Augmented Reality Application

“…In addition, his work includes a number of published papers that use different approaches to communicate knowledge about crystalline structures based on similar experiments. Elsworth et al report that the value of using crystal lattice models to impart knowledge about crystal structures has been documented earlier. Scattergood, for example, reported as early as 1937 on an experiment with crystal models made of glass marbles that captured the enthusiasm of the students.…”

“…According to Elsworth et al, the use of table tennis balls to model crystal structures has proven to be a cost-effective way to teach students how to build crystal structures. Sow et al take a different approach with the use of tennis balls and plexiglass boxes to build crystal structures.…”

Tangible symmetry elements and space-group models to guide from molecular to solid-state composition

“…This is facilitated by the fact that structural data can be retrieved from open access databases and converted into printable formats using freely available software (Moeck et al, 2014b;Kaminsky et al, 2014). However, even though a great number of creative unit-cell models for all kinds of teaching purposes have been reported (Bindel, 2002;Cady, 1997;Elsworth et al, 2017;Kennard, 1979;Komuro & Sone, 1961;Kildahl et al, 1986;Laing, 1997;Lenzer et al, 2019;Li & Worrell, 1989;Ma et al, 2020;Mann, 1973;Mattson, 2000;Olsen, 1967;Scattergood, 1937;Sein & Sein, 2015;Seymour, 1938;Sunderland, 2014;Westbrook & DeVries, 1957), to the best of our knowledge no models have been made available so far to foster students' abilities in spatial imagination in the contexts of translational symmetry and space groups.…”

A virtual alternative to molecular model sets: a beginners’ guide to constructing and visualizing molecules in open-source molecular graphics software

“…Physical molecular model sets are usually employed in an introductory-level chemistry laboratory [ 2 ]. Other similar teaching tools [ 3 – 45 ] vary greatly in terms of cost, ease of use, required amount of time and suitability for relevant topics in chemistry. We have considered and tried some of them in our class and arrived at some observations.…”

“…o Ping-pong balls [ 3 ], rubber balloons [ 4 ], bottle caps [ 5 , 6 ], whiteboard markers [ 7 ] or other materials [ 8 – 14 ] (Repurposing available materials)…”