Effect of Time of Day on Cosmic Ray Detection

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

Time of Day eLab Activity

Teacher Notes

 

DESCRIPTION

Students will perform a search of data to investigate whether there is a relationship     between time of day and flux.  This activity will enable students to become proficient at looking at data, and performing flux studies.  Students will report findings in a poster on the eLab site and present findings to the class.

 

STANDARDS ADDRESSED

Next Generation Science Standards

  Science and Engineering Practices

4. Analyzing and interpreting data

5. Using mathematics and computational thinking

6. Constructing explanations

  Cross-cutting concepts

1. Patterns. Observed patterns of forms and events guide organization and classification, and they prompt questions about relationships and the factors that influence them

Common Core Mathematics Standards

MP2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively

Common Core Literacy Standards

    Speaking and listening

4. Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

   Writing

W.11-12.9 – Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 Students will be able to:

  • Find data from cosmic ray detectors from various schools.

  • Run flux studies, varying bin width, as necessary.

  • Use analysis tools to detect maximums and minimums and adjust times.

  • Back a claim with evidence.


 

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

 Students must be able to keep careful record of maximums, minimums and adjusted  

 times.

 

BACKGROUND MATERIAL

  The times listed in data are in universal time.  Students will need to adjust these times

  to the time zone for the location of the school whose participants collected the data.  

 

IMPLEMENTATION

 There is no student handout for this activity.  Aside from instruction on accessing data,

 and the note about universal time, there is little background information necessary.

 

ASSESSMENT

  •   Students will generate a poster on the eLab site

  •   Students will present the poster to the class and to defend claims