ERIC Number: EJ1250853
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Apr
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
Platonic Solids and Their Programming: A Geometrical Approach
Morales-Vidales, J. Abraham; Salazar, S. Alejandro Sandoval; Jacobo-Fernández, Jimena M.; Tlahuice-Flores, Alfredo
Journal of Chemical Education, v97 n4 p1017-1025 Apr 2020
This work covers a three-week program designed to provide undergraduate students with a background in structural chemistry and materials science. Sessions are based on the programming of regular polyhedra and their geometrical relationships by using an object-oriented language (i.e., POV-Ray). Three lectures introduce the basics of programming (syntax), Platonic solids, and the geometrical study of metal clusters and carbon structures. Students work with geometrical aspects of two-dimensional (2D) polygons and generate computer-based algorithms. Next, students study dual three-dimensional (3D) polyhedral shapes, where they adapt the written code to generate Cartesian coordinates of the Platonic solids. Materials to guide the students include an explanation of pseudocodes, tutoring to accompany the programming sessions, reviews of generated codes, and session exercises and challenges. All activities during each hands-on session aim to engage and maintain the initial expectations of the students. Students gain capabilities and knowledge allowing them to code final tests: the C[subscript 60] molecule; an icosahedral metal cluster; and a cuboctahedron.
Descriptors: Chemistry, Geometry, College Science, Undergraduate Students, Units of Study, Programming, Hands on Science, Science Instruction
Division of Chemical Education, Inc. and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A