Session 1 Links, Materials, Assignment

Historical Overview of the Standard Model’s Development - Part 1

July 1, 2020

7pm - 9pm Eastern time

Learning objectives: Understand the driving motivations and important events in the history of particle physics and quantum field theory. Part 1 will cover the theories of the ancient Greeks up to the development of quantum mechanics.

Homework assignment (due July 1):

  1. Look over the Zoom etiquette handout, attached. 
  2. Make a video introducing yourself using the course Flip Grid:
    1. Go to flipgrid.com
    2. Scroll down a bit and in the "Enter a Flip Code" box, enter: qnsst2020
    3. Password is: Fermilab
    4. Hit the large green plus sign and record your video. Please make sure to include your name, QuarkNet center, and what you teach. 
    5. When finished, watch other people’s intro videos to start getting to know the rest of the class!
  3. Do the Heisenberg uncertainty principle data exercise on the QuarkNet website: https://quarknet.org/sites/default/files/heisenberg_student_%2023sep2019.pdf In particular, be prepared to discuss the following three questions:
    1. What happens to Δx when Δp increases? (Can you describe it mathematically?)
    2. How does your mathematical model support or contradict Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle? Describe your reasoning.
    3. How would improving the experimental setup change these results and your claims?

The homework should take approximately one hour to complete.


Additional resources