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The Standard Model of Fundamental Particles and Interaction

This section included fundamental particles and the forces by which they interact.  Activities focused on cosmic ray detection.

 

Talks

Stu Loken - The Standard Model 
This lecture examined the development of the Standard Model in two sections.  The first focused on the study of Cosmic Rays - particles that create new particles when they hit the Earth’s atmosphere.  The first two generations of particles were discussed, in addition to descriptions of General & Special Relativity.

The second section opened with a discussion of the neutrino's ability to oscillate between different types. All particles come in pairs (matter and antimatter) leading to the search for the strong quark’s partner (quarks are the building blocks of the nuclei of atoms). This leads to the realization of the existence of a third generation of particles.  A  detailed discussion of the four forces in Unified Field Theory and associated carrier particles followed. 

Photos
Videos
PDF of Powerpoint Presentation 1
PDF of Powerpoint Presentation 2

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Howard Matis - Cosmic Ray Detector Systematics
Dr. Matis discussed ways to minimize both systematic & statistical error in experimental design and how to calculate uncertainty.

 

 

 

Photo
PDF of Powerpoint Presentation

 

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  • Warm up

Misconceptions - Jennifer Perazzo
This was a list of common  statements students make about Astronomy and Physics.  Students  were asked to agree or disagree with each statement, and the correct responses were discussed.


Worksheet - Misconceptions

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Scavenger Hunt - Chantel Harley


Students had to find information and answer questions by referring to the Astrophysics Research posters and displays at Lawrence Berkeley Lab.


Scavenger hunt directions

 

 

 

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  • Main Activity

 

 

Cosmic Ray Detectors - Sean Fottrell
Teams used the Cosmic Ray Detectors in various locations and discussed how they worked and what they observed.

 

Photos
PPT - Detecting Cosmic Rays
Worksheet - Mini Experiments

 

 

 

Muon Lifetime Experiment 
Students applied their knowledge of Cosmic Rays & relativity to calculate the lifetime of a muon.


Worksheet - Muon Lifetime Lab Questions

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  • Wrap-up

 

Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream - Rollie Otto
Liquid nitrogen was used to freeze milk, chocolate, and other tasty delights in an effort to understand phase transitions and cryogenics. This process is analogous to phase transitions in the early universe in the Era of Decoupling (the origin of the CMB) and theorized Cosmic Strings. Workshop participants had a chance to wind down, enjoy ice cream, and talk with students as the first week came to a close.

 



Photos

 

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Marshmallow Nuclei - Rollie Otto


In this activity students demonstrated nuclear physics with marshmallows. White marshmallows represented protons and green marshmallows represented neutrons. The students were guided through nuclear processes such as fission and radioactive decay with their own marshmallow nuclei. This involved manipulating and creating elements such as carbon and oxygen.

 

Photos
Marshmallow Nuclei Worksheet

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Optional Field Trip to Mount Diablo

The optional field trip was an excursion to the peak of Mt. Diablo in which students and teachers collected data with cosmic ray detectors at some of the highest elevations in the Bay Area. In this experiment participants measured the cosmic ray intensity as a function of elevation with a GPS. This data was then used during the second week of the workshop to calculate the lifetime of the muon particle and introduce statistical error analysis with the results. This placed actual scientific data in the hands of the students to make special relativity calculations.

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Introduce Team Project short video
Take a concept from cosmology and explain it in terms that a high school or middle school student would understand.  Using an analogy and/or a demonstration could be very helpful.  You could also act out a short skit or create a rap to explain the concept.  Be creative.  These should be one or two minutes long and everyone in the team is involved. Videos will be made of each project.

Introduce Rubric for Concept Map
Students were given the components of the rubric that would be used to evaluate their final individual concept map.  These components include:  Age of the Universe, Evidence for a beginning, timeline of major events in Universe, Significant Eras, Evidence for Eras, Structure of Universe, Evidence for Structure of Universe, Mass Energy in the Universe, Evidence for Mass Energy in Universe, Nature of matter in Universe, Origin of Mass in Universe, Role of Astronomy, Role of Particle Accelerators, Key Cosmology Questions, Relativity.

 

Additional Resources and Web Sites

History and Structure of Universe

Evolution of the Universe

Evolution of Energy and Matter in the Universe / Chemical Evolution of the Universe

What's Next

 

Workshop Homepage

 

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