Nuclear Physics Show

Age

Middle School, High School

Format

Stage Show, Hands-on

Materials

   Entire show
       laptop with slides
       several power cords and power strips 
   Intro
       Cosmic ray detector (borrowed from Zach Constan at the cyclotron)
       Black fabric 
   Nuclear Physics
       Model nucleus
       Million dot book (may be with QM show stuff)
       meter stick
       slides or poster of the chart of isotopes 
   Accelerators
       Slingshot with ping pong ball
       Cathode ray tube (borrowed from the MSU physics department)
       bar magnet (borrowed from the MSU physics department)
       magnetic coil (black plastic ring with cord)
       slide of FRIB accelerator cavities
       piece of superconducting wire (small, in Meissner effect box)
       piece of copper wire which would carry the same amount of current (big, heavy, coated in black plastic)
       pyrex dish
       liquid nitrogen (and appropriate LN2 handling equipment, see Demos.LiquidNitrogen)
       piece of high temperature superconductor (about the size of a quarter, wrapped in scotch tape) (in Meissner effect box)
       small, strong magnet (in Meissner effect box)
       plastic tweezers (in Meissner effect box)
       camera which can be hooked to projector (to show Meissner effect to large audiences
       Model nucleus
       Geiger counter
       Fiestaware or other radioactive sample
       slide of radiation safety badge from the cyclotron 
   Conclusion
       balloons
       tin foil
       pins 

Safety Precautions: Science Theatre demonstrators must keep the safety of themselves and their audience in mind at all times. All Science Theatre demonstrators must have read through the Safety Training page. The ST Safety Box with first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc. should always be available to demonstrators. Always wear safety gloves, glasses, and a labcoat if handling chemicals; always perform potentially dangerous demonstrations at a safe distance from the audience; and always keep a very close eye on any volunteers you call from the audience.

When using slingshot or model nucleus, be sure that audience members are not in danger of being hit by projectiles.

Do not touch exposed metal when cathode ray tube is on; it could cause a shock.

Follow liquid nitrogen safety procedures when doing the Meissner effect. (See Demos.LiquidNitrogen.)

When performing the supernova demo, be sure not to prick the volunteer when popping the balloon.

Preparation: This show requires some practicing, but with adjustments could be performed by one volunteer or many. To guarentee that the show goes smoothly make sure all volunteers are comfortable with the science explained in their parts.

Also, on the day of the show, arrive at the location early enough to get all demos set up and plugged in, and make sure that the slides and camera for the Meissner effect work with the projector.

Demonstration

This show incorporates the following demos:

   Cosmic Rays
   Model Nucleus
   Accelerators
   Superconductivity and the Meissner Effect)
   Radioactivity
   Supernova Balloon

What to Say

Writeups for each of the constituent demos are in progress. Descriptions of each of them, as well a suggested way of linking them together can be found in Attach:FRIB_show_script.doc. Contact Jessie Muir at jlynnmuir(at)gmail.com for corresponding slides. Using this script, the show lasted about 50 minutes.