Cosmic Ray Workshop KSU 2018

Submitted by MartinShaffer
Published: | Group(s):
Kansas State University QuarkNet Center

“Our mission is to create opportunities for teachers and students to explore the nature of scientific research. Using cosmic ray muon detectors, participants design and perform experiments to analyze data employing the cosmic ray e-lab.”

  Learning objectives.

a.   Configure a cosmic ray detector appropriately for acquisition of data for calibration and analysis of measurements.

b.   Identify and describe the e-Lab tools available for conducting studies with data collected using a cosmic ray detector.

c.   Create, organize and interpret a data plot to make a claim based on evidence; provide reasoning and identify data limitations.

d.   Develop a plan for taking students from their current level of data use to subsequent levels using activities and/or ideas from the workshop.

Pre-Workshop notes:

                                -- needs assessment including communicating with mentor and/or lead teacher

                                -- check GPS location

                                -- check room

                                -- check projector and cables for presentations

                                -- print workshop evaluation

                                -- gather tools & supplies  - TAPE! TAPE! TAPE!

                                -- optional: black light --> scintillator

                                -- create e-Lab and Quarknet accounts for all teachers

                                --- have data collection computers with EQUIP installed and JAVA updated

June 6:  

            9:00   Welcome/Intros and mission statement and enduring understanding

Sign-in:

Teachers must sign in each day. The sign-in sheet should, minimally, have spaces for the name and signature of each teacher as well as time in and time out. Send the completed sign-in sheets to Anne Zakas. Originals are preferred; mail to:

Anne Zakas
QuarkNet Center at Notre Dame
Department of Physics
225 Nieuwland Science Hall
Notre Dame IN 46556

 

                     Needs assessment, norms, goals and learning objectives

                       Logistics: schedule, meals, parking lot for questions/comments, etc QuarkNet overview: "The Purpose of Quarknet" <-- QN staff  

           9:45   Gravitaional Waves   Bharat Ratra  

          10:45  Break 

          11:00  Cosmic Ray Mission discussion

                        Cosmic Ray Muon Detector hardware  components

                        Assemble CRMD: assist by QN staff  

                       12:00 Lunch                       

                        Four teams --> assemble four counters 

                         One team --> plan DAQ/GPS placement

                         Plan study type: shower array or stacked array?

                         Measure GEOMETRY

                         Data-taking: 'EQUIP' procedure

            4:00      Reflection and Discussion of the day’s activities

                         Take CR data: overnight

 

June 7:

                 9:00   Review of previous day’s activities

                        Cosmic Ray e-Lab overview

                        e-Lab login: verify accounts

                        Manage accounts: create student groups, change password

                         Tour e-Lab: Teacher side; Student side

                                    Teacher: Learning Objectives, Community

                                    Student: Cool Science, Library, Upload, Data, Posters

                9:45   Relativity - Bharat Ratra                       

               10:45  Break

               11:00  CRMD data UPLOAD: overnight data

                        PERFORMANCE analysis tool

                                  -- Assess data quality and discuss need for plateauing. 

               12:00  Lunch                        

                 1:00 Load GEOMETRY

                        FLUX, SHOWER, Lifetime, and Time of Flight analysis tools

                        Team CR investigation: FLUX, SHOWER --> write shared POSTER

              4:00  Reflection of activities

June 8:

                 9:00  Review of previous day’s activities

                        Work time: Teams

                 10:30  Break                       

                  11:00  Implementation Plan: classroom approach

                  12:00 Lunch

                     2:00  POSTER presentations

                     3:30   Future plans for group: CRMD data-taking,  coordinate research, CRMD rotation schedule.                                

Surveys:

Contacts:

Martin Shaffer  martin.shaffer@cowley.edu