HEP in the Classroom

Dr. Sascha SchmelingCERN/EP

HST Programme 2001

Overview Particle Physics as a Subject in Schools

Example for a curriculum Popular School Experiments

CRT, e/m, Millikan Self-built Experiments

Cosmic muon detection Short Discussion

available experiments existing knowledge

Hands-on Workshop

Curriculum

1. Repetition of known experiments Cathode Ray Tube, Millikan, e/m

2. Work with an interactive system3. Discuss found problems,

Work on specific topics Homework: Preparation of Short Talks

4. Talks, Q&A5. “Own” experiment, Outlook,

Links to other subjects

if not, it isa good

opportunity!!!

many systemsalready available

Feynman diagrams, various experiments

Cloud Chamber mostly known for

nuclear physics experiments

principle see the name

possible experiments visualisation of

elementary particles

Rutherford’s Experiment THE experiment to

show that matter on our scales has a substructure

principle scattering

241Am

primary beam

gold foil

scattered beams

detector

Cathode Ray Tube well-known

experiment, with screen useable for various effects

principle acceleration with

electrical fields deflection with

different field types

cath

od

e

ano

de

acce

lera

tio

n v

olt

age

vacu

um

tu

be

elec

tro

n b

eam

Electron Beam Diffraction Tube

not really particle physics but good possibility to show the wave nature of electrons

principle Bragg reflection at graphite electron waves

possible experiments: wave length measurement h measurement

Millikan Experiment classical experiment

(first performed 1916) to show quantisation of the electrical charge

principle: electric force

possible experiment: measurement of

electron charge

There exist manyready-to-use appletseven from teachers

for teachers!

Multimedia Tools

Some of these experiments cannot be shown in every school, as they are expensive.

Why not use multimedia for this?

Example: Millikan-Experiment with ViMPS

Pupils always use computers!

Black box!

Anyway, one should restrict

that!Sure, but there is the need – sometimes!

Fine Beam Tube

instructive measurement of electron properties

principle: Lorentz Force

possible experiment: measurement of

e/m

Theoretical input:

e/m Experiment Measurement:

r

vmFcenter

2

2

,

2

.2

21

Uevm

UeEvmE accelelectrickin

veBFLorentz

22

2

rB

U

m

e

e/m ?

r

electron beamcathode

accel. voltage

magneticfield

Circular Accelerator

Franck-Hertz Experiment also not a real

“particle physics” experiment but good to show quantisation

principle: ionisation by electrons

possible experiment: illustrate Bohr’s model

Self-Made Experiments In contrast to these – expensive – standard

experiments, it is possible to set up small experiments with available or not expensive to buy pieces, such as

coffee pots neon tubes wire

with these tools it is possible to perform nice experiments with cosmic muons

KamioCan

Muon detection

small spark chamber

KamioCan small experiment to

detect muons

simple set-up power supply oscilloscope photomultiplier pot

with large(r) pot you can measure the muon lifetime

PC needed documented electronics

Muon Lifetime expected signal

from photomultiplier

background (non-) - +background +

for unfolding one could fit a function and derive the muon lifetime:

t

etf

)(

Nice to relate to mathematics!?

only usefor t>~2s

Neon Tubes another small

experiment to detect cosmic muons

very simple set-up neon tubes (even faulty

ones) power supply

adjustable to your needs/wishes

granularity efficiency

TheEnd

Questions?!

See youat the

workshop!