Assignment 4
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Speed of A Cosmic Ray
Today you took two different sets of data for the first experiment. The first involved measuring the rate of cosmic rays through two scintillators and investigating how this rate changes when the scintillators are moved apart vertically. In addition, you measured the difference in the signal arrival times from one cosmic ray in two different scintillators. We decided to make the lab writeup a group effort.
Some things you might want to include:
1. Your raw data from both parts of the lab
2. A plot of cosmic ray rate vs separation distance
3. Calculations to find the velocity of cosmic rays
4. Discussion of items 2 and 3
Some questions you might want to incorporate into your writeup:
1. Why does the rate of cosmic rays decrease as the scintillators are moved further apart?
2. What would happen to the measured rate of cosmic rays if the two scintillators were not aligned(and why)?
3. Why was the second setup preferred to measure the difference in arrival times from the two scintillators?
4. Why might the difference in arrival times from the two scintillators vary between different events?
Photos
You can include the pictures of the experiment that were taken. You should be able to find them by going Here and following the links.
For Tuesday:
Part A
You should collaborate on developing the procedure for your second experiment(and 3rd and 4th if possible). If you can post the procedure for the second lab before Tuesday it will give Rich and Nate time to assemble the necessary equipment.
Part B
Don't forget your blog entry. Blog entry number three should be posted to your personal page for Tuesday. Remember to include a lightbulb and a challenge moment.
For Thursday:
Write your lab report for the first experiment, The Speed of a Cosmic Ray. This is a group effort. Please include the sections described in Assignment 2.
