![Atomic Mobile](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/header-graphic-atomic-mobile/5431958-1-eng-US/header-graphic-atomic-mobile_full_495.gif 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/header-graphic-atomic-mobile/5431958-1-eng-US/header-graphic-atomic-mobile_full_990.gif 550w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/header-graphic-atomic-mobile/5431958-1-eng-US/header-graphic-atomic-mobile_full_1468.gif 550w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/header-graphic-atomic-mobile/5431958-1-eng-US/header-graphic-atomic-mobile_full_1980.gif 550w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/header-graphic-atomic-mobile/5431958-1-eng-US/header-graphic-atomic-mobile_full_2475.gif 550w)
Take a look around you. What do you see? Your desk, your hand, a tree out the window. Everything you can name is matter.
What is Matter?
![two girls holding up the atomic mobiles they made](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/mobile-main-image/5432159-1-eng-US/mobile-main-image_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/mobile-main-image/5432159-1-eng-US/mobile-main-image_full_990.jpg 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/mobile-main-image/5432159-1-eng-US/mobile-main-image_full_1468.jpg 1100w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/mobile-main-image/5432159-1-eng-US/mobile-main-image_full_1980.jpg 1100w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/mobile-main-image/5432159-1-eng-US/mobile-main-image_full_2475.jpg 1100w)
Make a mobile of a carbon atom!
![What You'll Need](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/space-jello/header-need/4702304-2-eng-US/header-need_full_495.gif 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/space-jello/header-need/4702304-2-eng-US/header-need_full_990.gif 547w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/space-jello/header-need/4702304-2-eng-US/header-need_full_1468.gif 547w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/space-jello/header-need/4702304-2-eng-US/header-need_full_1980.gif 547w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/space-jello/header-need/4702304-2-eng-US/header-need_full_2475.gif 547w)
![periodic table printout, wire, pipe cleaners, a scissors, orange clay, blue clay, yellow clay](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/materials-needed/5432195-2-eng-US/materials-needed_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/materials-needed/5432195-2-eng-US/materials-needed_full_990.jpg 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/materials-needed/5432195-2-eng-US/materials-needed_full_1468.jpg 1100w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/materials-needed/5432195-2-eng-US/materials-needed_full_1980.jpg 1100w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/materials-needed/5432195-2-eng-US/materials-needed_full_2475.jpg 1100w)
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Periodic Table
(Click here to get the pdf.) - Scissors
- Wire and pipe cleaners
- Clay (3 different colors)
- Thin string, thread, or nylon thread (optional)
![What To Do](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/space-jello/header-do/4702296-2-eng-US/header-do_full_495.gif 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/space-jello/header-do/4702296-2-eng-US/header-do_full_990.gif 547w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/space-jello/header-do/4702296-2-eng-US/header-do_full_1468.gif 547w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/space-jello/header-do/4702296-2-eng-US/header-do_full_1980.gif 547w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/space-jello/header-do/4702296-2-eng-US/header-do_full_2475.gif 547w)
![atom with the nucleus in the center and electrons diagrammed](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/atom-diagram/5432511-1-eng-US/atom-diagram_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/atom-diagram/5432511-1-eng-US/atom-diagram_full_990.jpg 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/atom-diagram/5432511-1-eng-US/atom-diagram_full_1468.jpg 1100w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/atom-diagram/5432511-1-eng-US/atom-diagram_full_1980.jpg 1100w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/physics/atomic-mobile/atom-diagram/5432511-1-eng-US/atom-diagram_full_2475.jpg 1100w)
Atoms are made of even smaller parts: a central nucleus made of protons and neutrons. Electrons orbit in spheres around the atom.
Try This!
Did You Know?
Image Credits:
All Images: courtesy of AMNH