1. Dr. Sascha Schmeling CERN/EP HST Programme 2001
HEP in the Classroom
Dr. Sascha Schmeling
CERN/EP
HST Programme 2001

2. 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

3. Curriculum Repetition of known experiments
if not, it is
a good
opportunity!!!
Repetition of known experiments
Cathode Ray Tube, Millikan, e/m
Work with an interactive system
Discuss found problems, Work on specific topics
Homework: Preparation of Short Talks
Talks, Q&A
“Own” experiment, Outlook, Links to other subjects
many systems
already available
Feynman diagrams,
various experiments

4. Cloud Chamber mostly known for nuclear physics experiments principle
see the name
possible experiments
visualisation of elementary particles

5. Rutherford’s Experiment
THE experiment to show that matter on our scales has a substructure
principle
scattering
241Am
primary
a beam
gold foil
scattered beams
detector

6. Cathode Ray Tube
cathode
anode
acceleration voltage
vacuum tube
electron beam
well-known experiment, with screen useable for various effects
principle
acceleration with electrical fields
deflection with different field types

7. 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

8. Millikan Experiment
classical experiment (first performed 1916) to show quantisation of the electrical charge
principle:
electric force
possible experiment:
measurement of electron charge

9. Sure, but there is the need – sometimes!
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
Black box!
Pupils always
use computers!
There exist many
ready-to-use applets
even from teachers
for teachers!
Anyway, one
should restrict
that!
Sure, but there is the need – sometimes!

10. Fine Beam Tube instructive measurement of electron properties
principle:
Lorentz Force
possible experiment:
measurement of e/m

11. e/m Experiment
Theoretical input:
Measurement:

12. Circular Accelerator e/m ? magnetic field cathode electron beam
accel. voltage

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Muon Lifetime expected signal from photomultiplier
background (non-m)
m- +background m+
for unfolding one could fit a function and derive the muon lifetime:
only use
for t>~2ms
Nice to relate
to mathematics!?

17. 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

18. Questions?!
The
End
See you
at the
workshop!

19. Interactive Learning Systems