Friday Flyer - March 27, 2015

Spotlight on Cloud Chambers: For over 12 years QuarkNet has offered classroom cosmic ray detectors to teachers. These detectors based on scintillator/PMT counters and GPS-timed DAQs have enabled precise time cosmic ray data collection, but “how do I know the detector is measuring something real?” says the skeptical student. Even a twofold coincidence demo does not convince some. “Seeing is believing,” said the Polar Express hobo. And the QuarkNet cloud chamber provides a ready answer to “seeing is believing" actual particle tracks. This large footprint chamber was designed to nest between counters of our detector. It is cheap to build ($40-ish) and with a 10” x 10” viewing area really captivates students as they watch the many tracks suddenly appear like jet contrails. The images are so compelling it will convince the most skeptical student or teacher. “Yes, yes, I want to build one. Where do I find the instructions?” says the eager teacher. Right here!

And How to reveal subatomic particles at home from NOVA

Physics Experiment Roundup: Surprising gamma ray signal in satellite galaxy could come from WIMPs. (from arstechnica)

Resources: A Feather and a Bowling Ball Dropped Together Inside the World's Largest Vacuum Chamber

Just for Fun: About the Cat

QuarkNet Staff Teachers:
Ken Cecire: kcecire@nd.edu
Tom Jordan: jordant@fnal.gov
Bob Peterson: rspete@fnal.gov