Data Activities Portfolio

The Data Portfolio is a compendium of particle physics classroom activities organized by Data Strand, Level of student engagement, Curriculum Topics and NGSS Standards. Follow the links provided for information about using the Data Portfolio to plan your students’ experience. Level descriptions explain the data analysis skills that students apply at each level: tasks in Level 0 are simpler than those in Levels 1 and 2. While each level can be explored individually, students who start in one level and progress to more complex levels experience increasingly engaging and challenging tasks. These activities are aligned with NGSS Standards, particularly NGSS Practices.

Each Curriculum Topic provides connections between topics routinely covered in physics class and particle physics content and methods. Use the menus to find activities related to the content you are currently covering. Watch this screencast to learn more about sorting these activities.

We are making Spanish Language versions of the activities. To find the activities with Spanish versions, use the Curriculum Topics menu, scroll to the bottom, select Spanish Language then Apply.. Special thanks to Danelix Cordero-Rosario from the Puerto Rico Center for providing these translations.

QuarkNet has entered the world of data science. Use the Curriculum Topic menu to locate the Skill: Coding option then Apply.

We want your feedback on how the activities worked for you. Please complete the feedback form to help us improve our activities.

Activity Name Data Strand Level Curriculum Topics NGSS Practices
QuarkNet STEP UP: Careers in Physics

Lesson #2 in QuarkNet STEP UP Series on diversity and inclusion.

 Level 1 Diversity & Inclusion
Making Tracks II

Students analyze tracks in a bubble chamber.

 Cosmic Ray, LHC, Neutrino Level 1 Conservation Laws, Nature of Matter, Standard Model, Skill: Developing Models 1, 2, 4, 6, 7
Particle Transformations

Students discover the rules of particle transformations using transformation diagrams.

 Cosmic Ray, LHC, Neutrino Level 1 Conservation Laws, Nature of Matter, Standard Model, Skill: Developing Models 1, 2, 4, 6, 7
TOTEM 1

Students use TOTEM data to determine if protons (quantum objects) obey classical conservation of momentum.

 LHC Level 1 Conservation Laws, Nature of Matter 4, 5, 8
CMS Data Express

CMS Data Express is a short investigation in which students inspect and characterize W or Z events from the LHC.

 LHC Level 2 Conservation Laws, Nature of Matter, Skill: Developing Models, Skill: Histograms, Skill: Uncertainty 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
TOTEM 2

Use quantum physics and LHC data to estimate the size of the proton.

 LHC Level 2 Instrumentation, Waves & Interference, Kinematics, Nature of Matter, Quantum Mechanics, Skill: Developing Models, Skill: Histograms, Skill: Uncertainty 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
ATLAS Z-path Masterclass

Students are physicists for a day at a university or lab where they work with physiists to how to analyze real particle physics data in the form of event displays.

 

 LHC Level 2 Conservation Laws, Nature of Matter, Skill: Histograms, Skill: Uncertainty 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Mean Lifetime Part 2: Cosmic Muons

Students learn how physicists measure muon lifetime.

 Cosmic Ray Level 2 Half-Life/Mean Lifetime, Nature of Matter, Special Relativity, Skill: Histograms, Skill: Uncertainty 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
ATLAS Data Express

ATLAS Data Express is a short investigation in which students inspect and characterize Z events in the LHC and distinguish muons from electrons.

 LHC Level 2 Conservation Laws, Instrumentation, Nature of Matter, Skill: Developing Models, Skill: Histograms, Skill: Uncertainty 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
ATLAS W-path Masterclass

Students are physicists for a day at a university or lab where they work with physicists to how to analyze real particle physics data in the form of event displays.

 LHC Level 2 Conservation Laws, Nature of Matter, Skill: Histograms, Skill: Uncertainty 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8