Cloud Chamber Kit for Active Learning in a First-Year Undergraduate Nuclear Science Seminar Class

Autor/in	White, A. E.
Titel	Cloud Chamber Kit for Active Learning in a First-Year Undergraduate Nuclear Science Seminar Class
Quelle	In: Physics Education, 57 (2022) 4, Artikel 045034 (8 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0031-9120
Schlagwörter	Science Instruction; Undergraduate Study; College Science; Nuclear Physics; Demonstrations (Educational); Hands on Science; Active Learning; Experiential Learning; Scientific Concepts; Radiation; Secondary School Science + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Teaching of science; Science education; Natural sciences Lessons; Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht; Grundstudium; Atomphysik; Kernphysik; Demonstrationsexperiment; Demonstrationsmodell; Demonstrationsunterricht; Aktives Lernen; Experiental learning; Erfahrungsorientiertes Lernen; Strahlung
Abstract	This paper presents the design and reports on the use of a simple and inexpensive cloud chamber kit that is compatible with active learning, experiential learning, and project-based learning strategies. The kit was developed for use in a first-year undergraduate nuclear science seminar class at a university in the US. Diffusion cloud chambers are commonly used in classroom demonstrations to teach students about cosmic rays and ionizing radiation. A variety of clever and novel cloud chambers found in the literature were built and tested as part of this work and are all suitable for instructor-led classroom demonstrations. However, each has drawbacks that limit its use in hands-on classroom activities as part of active learning, experiential learning, and project-based learning in the classroom. The purpose of this work was to develop a cloud chamber 'kit' that can be built in less than 10 min by students during class and guarantees student success in observing background radiation. The cloud chamber kit was found to be highly sensitive to background radiation, and several different types of high-energy particles, including muons or anti-muons, electrons or positrons, photoelectrons, and alpha particles, were detected and identified using the kits at a rate of over 20 tracks per minute measured indoors at sea level at latitude 42.3601° N. The simplicity of the cloud chamber kit presented here makes it compatible with a variety of best practices for active learning in the classroom and requires little preparation time outside of class. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01