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Talk Detail
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| Talk Title: |
Verifying Einstein on Top of the World
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| Presenter(s): |
Suwary, Bozena - University of Illinois - Chicago, bsuwary@yahoo.com, Teacher
Wood-Harrington, Charlotte - University of Illinois - Chicago, woodharr@yahoo.com, Teacher
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| Date: |
8-6-2003
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| Event: |
AAPT Summer Meeting Madison WI
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| Talk Annotation: |
High school teachers in the QuarkNet group for High Energy Physics of the University of Illinois at Chicago have constructed particle physics detectors for use by their students. Students then calculate the lifetime of muons created in collisions of cosmic rays with the upper atmosphere. They then are able to compare results among sites within our group and also to world-wide sites. The roof of Chicago's Sears Tower provided an elevated platform for the placement of three detectors. Using a Newtonian model, the lifetime of muons is so short that half of those detected at an altitude of 450 m would be expected to decay before reaching ground level. Because the muons travel close to the speed of light, however, Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity would predict time dilation, with few muons decaying in that distance. Our results rule out the Newtonian model and agree with the predictions of relativity.
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| Audience Size: |
30
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| Talk URL: |
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| Materials URL: |
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