Cosmic Ray Detector Experiments LBNL 2017
Purpose –This experiment gave hands-on experience collecting & interpreting data from muon detectors. These detectors were supplied by Howard Matis of LBL. Students had had no previous experience with the detectors.
Methods –Before working with the detectors, students viewed a video about special relativity & muon decay on their own. The two hour formal session started with a 30 min power point presentation on what cosmic rays are and how we detect them. Then, students were shown a high voltage gas detector. Followed by a discussion, students were trained on how to use the detectors. There were 9 groups comprised of 4 students and 1 teacher. Each group had its own detector. Each group designed a brief experiment. These experiments ranged from tilting the detectors to get a different count to shielding experiments using different floors in a building. The experiment that most groups did was going to different levels of the building to see if the counts change due to shielding.
Results - Each group recorded their data and presented their findings informally. Because of time constraints, there was no formally written data shared with the entire group. Some groups did mention specific numbers of muon counts. There was a discussion covering the causes of the difference in counts. Their counts in the upper floors of the building were more than the lower floors.
There was also a discussion on why the two detectors had different counts which lead to an explanation which covered the role voltage plays in the sensitivity of the paddles. Too high of a voltage gives a runaway count, too low of a voltage gives no count.
Meaning & future investigations - Cosmic rays have played a large role in the development of Particle Physics. The muon as well as antimatter were first detected by cosmic ray investigations. Students had also had a presentation on Cosmic Rays & the ICE Cube experiment. This activity gave the students a first-hand experience in understanding & working with particles and helped them make connections with larger research experiments. Further investigations could include continuing to study the different shielding materials, different elevations of detection, & the effects of magnetic fields on the detector as well as the earth’s magnetic field.
Participating Teachers:
Adams
Ray retired
Becker
Philip Freedom H.S.
Eldred
Craig Terra Linda H.S.
Galloway
Erin Alameda H.S.
Guthrie
Laura Acalanes H.S.
Kerrigan
Laurie Mercy, S.F.
Louie
Justin Novato H.S.
Marten
Bryan Lowell H.S.
Melnik
Glen Piedmont H.S.
Noblejas
Jeffrey St. Ignatius H.S.
Piccioni
Richard The Bay School
Risk
Valerie Albany H.S.
Participating Students
Alvarado
Natasha
Ben-Ora
Kelden
Brunell
Geoffrey
Chen
Kevin
DaSilva
Rakesh
Dellert
Maeve
Fang-Horvath
Hallie
Fang-Horvath
Sierra
Fuentes
Jose (Tripp)
Gallardo
Robert
Garcia Vilchis
Monica
Gerson
Jessica
Guerrero
Neo
Guinasso
Danielle
Hahn
Beatrice
Ho
Nathan
Iwata
Mana
Jagabattuni
Sakuntala
King
Miles
Lyons
Christian
McClellan
Jack
Morrell
Bryant
Ngai
Audrey
Potter
Emma
Riley
Jack
Scottland
Dominic
Sharpe
Katherine
Tierney
Mary (Amelia)
To
Vivian
Vallat
Morgan
Wang
Rosetta
Wu
Danny
Zhang
Arthur
Purpose –This experiment gave hands-on experience collecting & interpreting data from muon detectors. These detectors were supplied by Howard Matis of LBL. Students had had no previous experience with the detectors.
Methods –Before working with the detectors, students viewed a video about special relativity & muon decay on their own. The two hour formal session started with a 30 min power point presentation on what cosmic rays are and how we detect them. Then, students were shown a high voltage gas detector. Followed by a discussion, students were trained on how to use the detectors. There were 9 groups comprised of 4 students and 1 teacher. Each group had its own detector. Each group designed a brief experiment. These experiments ranged from tilting the detectors to get a different count to shielding experiments using different floors in a building. The experiment that most groups did was going to different levels of the building to see if the counts change due to shielding.
Results - Each group recorded their data and presented their findings informally. Because of time constraints, there was no formally written data shared with the entire group. Some groups did mention specific numbers of muon counts. There was a discussion covering the causes of the difference in counts. Their counts in the upper floors of the building were more than the lower floors.
There was also a discussion on why the two detectors had different counts which lead to an explanation which covered the role voltage plays in the sensitivity of the paddles. Too high of a voltage gives a runaway count, too low of a voltage gives no count.
Meaning & future investigations - Cosmic rays have played a large role in the development of Particle Physics. The muon as well as antimatter were first detected by cosmic ray investigations. Students had also had a presentation on Cosmic Rays & the ICE Cube experiment. This activity gave the students a first-hand experience in understanding & working with particles and helped them make connections with larger research experiments. Further investigations could include continuing to study the different shielding materials, different elevations of detection, & the effects of magnetic fields on the detector as well as the earth’s magnetic field.
Participating Teachers:
Adams
Ray retired
Becker
Philip Freedom H.S.
Eldred
Craig Terra Linda H.S.
Galloway
Erin Alameda H.S.
Guthrie
Laura Acalanes H.S.
Kerrigan
Laurie Mercy, S.F.
Louie
Justin Novato H.S.
Marten
Bryan Lowell H.S.
Melnik
Glen Piedmont H.S.
Noblejas
Jeffrey St. Ignatius H.S.
Piccioni
Richard The Bay School
Risk
Valerie Albany H.S.
Participating Students
Alvarado
Natasha
Ben-Ora
Kelden
Brunell
Geoffrey
Chen
Kevin
DaSilva
Rakesh
Dellert
Maeve
Fang-Horvath
Hallie
Fang-Horvath
Sierra
Fuentes
Jose (Tripp)
Gallardo
Robert
Garcia Vilchis
Monica
Gerson
Jessica
Guerrero
Neo
Guinasso
Danielle
Hahn
Beatrice
Ho
Nathan
Iwata
Mana
Jagabattuni
Sakuntala
King
Miles
Lyons
Christian
McClellan
Jack
Morrell
Bryant
Ngai
Audrey
Potter
Emma
Riley
Jack
Scottland
Dominic
Sharpe
Katherine
Tierney
Mary (Amelia)
To
Vivian
Vallat
Morgan
Wang
Rosetta
Wu
Danny
Zhang
Arthur