QuarkNet Institute Milestones

Fermilab: 26 June - 2 July 2005

Work as a team to meet these milestones. The Level-3 project managers will visit your group to participate in brief Milestone Seminars toward the end of your work on milestones A and B. There will be an all-hands session for milestone C.

A. Get Started
Prepares the team to design the investigation:

1. Describe cosmic rays in simple terms.
   • Make use of the relativistic units which are common in particle physics.
   • Describe the effect of a magnetic field on the trajectory of a charged particle and how this may be used to determine the momentum of the particle.
   • Describe the distinction between the momentum and energy of an observed particle.
   • Calculate the mass of a particle given its energy and momentum.
   • Explain the process of collision, particle production and decay in the context of cosmic rays.
2. Suggest three measurements of cosmic ray properties.
3. Describe two techniques for detecting cosmic rays.
4. Describe the functionality of the QuarkNet DAQ.
5. Participate in a milestone seminar.
6. Assemble a research team and write a proposal.

B. Figure it Out
Prepares the team to analyze the data:

1. Use search parameters to identify data of interest.
2. Choose appropriate data analysis tools.
3. Measure and correct for background when appropriate.
4. Carry out analysis, modifying as needed.
5. Participate in a milestone seminar.
6. Reflect on teaching and learning.
   • Describe the skills that teachers need to guide student learning in this environment.
   • Describe the skills that students need to thrive in this environment.
   • Describe how you might manage student learning in this environment.

C. Tell Others
Prepares the team to enter into scientific discourse with other researchers.

1. Defend the solution using the data and results of your analysis.
2. Create a poster to present your results (& pedagogy poster).
3. Attend institute poster session