Use of Cosmic Ray eLab to Teach the Research Process

Deborah RoudebushOakton High School

2900 Sutton RoadVienna, VA 22181

AAPT 2009 Winter MeetingFebruary 15, 2009Chicago, Illinois

What is QuarkNet?

• http://quarknet.fnal.gov/

QuarkNet provides professional development and on-going support for physics teachers

My Role in QuarkNet

• Lead Teacher Hampton University Center– 2000 – Present– Conduct research at Hampton University– Work with teachers to develop lessons on

particle physics for the classroom– Work high school students with research

projects related to Particle Physics

What is eLab?

Muon Detectors in High Schools

Oakton High School

• Bringing teachers and students together as researchers…

Some were Experimentalists…• Muon detector construction underway at

Oakton High School:

…and Some Were Theorists• Tutorial in data mining using muon data

stored in eLab:

Calibrating• Students performed the calibration

studies on the Oakton High School Muon Detector:

Uploading Data• Data collected overnight and uploaded via

eLab:

Running a Performance Study• Performance study to determine if the our data

should be “blessed”:

Using Flux Studies• Flux studies are important for developing

research questions:

Science Fair Projects• Christina and Richa are

studying flux as a function of altitude and ground temperature :

•Scott is in charge of calibration and “Blessing Data”:

•Rachel is studying Flux vs Time of Day

Long Term RunsGoal: • Run 24/7 and upload every three to five

days• Teams of students responsible for

uploading and “blessing” data• Students develop sophistication in data

mining and develop significant research questions such as the possible role of muon activity in triggering thunder storms

The Future

• Detectors in more schools in Fairfax County, VA, to establish a detection grid for shower studies

• Develop collaboration groups for students across the county and across the country

• Provide opportunities for high school students to be directly involved in new research.

Deborah.Roudebush@fcps.edu

Oakton High School

2900 Sutton Road

Vienna, VA 22181