Friday Flyer - November 21, 2014
Spotlight on Andres Torres and His Students: Students from Andres Torres' class at Ronald Reagan/Doral Senior High School represented South Florida at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in May 2014. Andres introduced more concepts in particle physics to all of his classes after attending a QuarkNet workshop at Florida International University in Summer 2013. He created a group of 10 students to "specialize" in particle physics; two members of the group took their work to ISEF. The pair worked with Andres and David Jones of FIU; they used the QuarkNet cosmic ray detector to measure the deflection of cosmic rays by magnetic fields and free-flowing ions in electrolytic cells. The title of their project was: "Muon Flux through Various Substances and Conditions." Andres is extremely proud of these students and their passion for particle physics; wouldn't you be?
News from QuarkNet Central: Has your group participated in International Muon Week (IMW) before? Watch your email! An announcement for this year's program will be out soon!
For the past four years a small group of QuarkNet teachers have developed a collaboration activity using the cosmic ray detector. IMW allows students and teachers to analyze cosmic ray flux data from sites worldwide. Participants experience the excitement of data-driven science by sharing and collaborating just as the particle physics research community does.
Jeff Rodriguez, University of Cincinnati QuarkNet Center, traveled to CERN to speak at a recent International Particle Physics Outreach Group (IPPOG) meeting to introduce the group to the project and to promote networking with member countries. Besides the general CERN tour and seeing the new synchrocyclotron exhibit, he was able to tour the caverns at ATLAS and LHCb. The LHCb tour included an in-depth look at the old Delphi detector. This was the first machine data for masterclass that Jeff worked with. Although the first snow fell in the mountains that week, there was only time for a brief tour of Geneva before the long flight back home.
In other news, a fresh QuarkNet an der Elbe is online.
Physics Experiment Roundup: Got a Minute? Are there extra dimensions?
CERN press release: LHCb experiment observes two new baryon particles never seen before
Resources: Do you know Cambridge Physics for the IB Diploma by K. A. Tsokos? Duc Ong (Hawaii center) uses it to prepare students for doing an e-Lab; topics include particles and interactions, detectors and accelerators, quarks and leptons, experimental evidence for the Standard Model and more.
Do you have a different favorite? Let us know. Leave a comment.
CERN announces the 2015 Beamline for Schools Competition.
Just for Fun: Have you seen the Lego accelerator? From Mike Wadness and Zach G. (one of his students)
QuarkNet Staff Teachers:
Ken Cecire: kcecire@nd.edu
Tom Jordan: jordant@fnal.gov
Bob Peterson: rspete@fnal.gov