Magnetic Atom Models

Abstract

Educational atom models which are attached to a plurality of filaments, to which each end is attached a self-orienting magnet. The magnet is comprised of one magnet or a plurality of magnets, such that the assembly can orient to align, attract and bond to a magnet attached to the end of another filament. The atom models can mimic chemical bonds when a magnet assembly from one atom model orients, attracts and bonds to a magnet from a different atom model. The bonding between magnets more accurately mimics the formation of chemical bonds in terms of force, energy, bonding-electron origin, speed, spontaneity, and atoms' ability to form double and triple bonds. The models are educationally engaging resulting in better learning outcomes.

1 . An atom model for molecular model building, said atom model comprising,
 a spherical portion,   a magnetic assembly, said magnetic assembly having a magnetic end-face,   a means for rotatably connecting said spherical portion and said end-face,   wherein said atom model is configured such that a magnetic pole of said magnetic end-face can freely rotate about an axis perpendicular to the end-face thereby enabling the atom model to magnetically bond to another atom model by pairing their respective magnetic end-faces.   
     
     
         2 . The atom model of  claim 1  wherein said magnetic end face is multi-polar. 
     
     
         3 . The atom model of  claim 1  being configured wherein said multi-polar end-face is capable of being positioned with said end-face oriented away from said spherical portion. 
     
     
         4 . An atomic bonding model for molecular model building, said atomic bonding model comprising
 a spherical portion,   at least one flexible filament having a first end attached to said spherical portion and a second end attached to a plug,   said plug comprising a) a circular lip forming a cavity inside said plug; c) an aperture oriented away from said spherical portion, and   a housing comprising d) a planar multi-polar magnetic end face rigidly attached to said housing and facing away from said spherical portion; e) a flange with outer diameter larger than said aperture and inner diameter smaller than said aperture located at the opposite end of said housing from said planar multi-polar end face wherein said housing passes from the outside to the inside of said cavity through said aperture;   thus allowing said magnetic housing to rotate around the axis of the filament.   
     
     
         5 . An atomic bonding model for molecular model building, said atomic bonding model comprising a spherical portion, at least one flexible filament having a first end attached to said spherical portion and a second end attached to a plug, said plug rigidly attached to a housing,
 said housing containing a cavity and an aperture facing away from said spherical portion to form an end face,   said cavity containing a spherical multipolar magnet having a diameter greater than said aperture,   said spherical multipolar magnet having a diameter smaller than said cavity thus allowing said multipolar spherical magnet to orient about the axis of the filament.   
     
     
         6 . An atomic bonding model for molecular model building, said atomic bonding model comprising a spherical portion,
 said spherical portion containing at least one cavity each containing an aperture located at the surface of said spherical portion, and   at least one flexible filament having a first end attached to a plug and a second end attached to a housing,   said plug disposed within said cavity, said plug's diameter smaller than said cavity,   said filament passing through aperture from the inside to outside of said cavity,   said housing having a multi-polar magnetic end face rigidly attached to said housing,   said end face oriented away from said spherical portion   thus allowing said magnetic housing to rotate around the axis of the filament.   
     
     
         7 . An atomic bonding model for molecular model building, said atomic bonding model comprising a spherical portion, at least one flexible filament having a first end attached to said spherical portion and a second end rigidly attached to a housing, said housing having a multi-polar magnetic end face orientated away from said spherical portion, said flexible filament having an elastic portion positioned between said first end and said second end thus allowing said magnetic multi-polar magnetic housing to rotate about the axis of said filament.