variables to be considered: direction time lenght of time for exposure night vs day location elevation sheilding materials building materials
We are considering comparing elevation inside various buildings and outside on balconies.
Problems we are considering: what amount of radition comes from the building?
Should we propose a null hypothesis - elevation will not matter Can we tell what the building is producing? The suggestion is that the detector held sideways will measure that. But, we question if that is an authentic measure of the same building materials, the cielings are often of differen Can we eliminate the radiation produced by the building? Will that level of radiation be constant, ie not dependent on floor?
building that the walls are able to shield even though the available cosmic rays coming from that direction are limited.
PAN PROPOSAL ELEMENTS (all sections should be completed)
Description of Experiment (no more than 2 pages of text for items 1through 3 – double spaced, 12pt; no limit on figures or tables; figures, tables and references to come at the end of the text)
Please organize material under the following headings or their equivalent:
1. Physics justification, including background and references. Why is this interesting? 2. Goals of proposed experiment, including hypothesis. 3. Experimental details—what is to be measured; technical feasibility of measurement; count rate estimate for error analysis 4. Supplemental material (Figures, Tables, References, etc.). One figure must be a layout of the experimental apparatus.
I. Physics Justification We understand that cosmic radiation should not be significantly reduced by the atmosphere as we change elevations reached by a 6 story building. We are assuming that buildings have a lot more matter and electrons which will interact with the muons and thus reduce cosmic rays reaching that destination. We understand that different buildings may have different capabilities with regard to shielding, based on different building materials. We understand that naturally occurring isotopes radiate and will increase the count attained in any experiment.
II. Goals of the proposed experiment We propose to test the hypothesis that the building materials used in Owen Hall are relatively “normal” and that they shield one based on the floor you are on. Our hypothesis is that any difference in cosmic ray numbers is based on the shielding from the building.
We are trying to control for the radiation given off by the building. If we could write a great model for the building’s ability to shield, it would take into account the rate at which cosmic radiation is reduced by increased elevation and the rate at which te building produces radiation.
III. Experimental Details Materials: from NSCL: Detector, plank, extension cord, laptop, ruler from team: stopwatch
1. Calibration: This will tell us what the building is producing. Hold detector at 90o so that we can measure horizontal radiation from the walls. Get a count inside and outside the building to compare background and building. This step will take 10 minutes of count so that the error rate will be as small as possible. a. If the count inside the building is significantly higher than outside the building, then we conclude that the building is contributing to the count. b. If the count inside the building is significantly lower than outside the building then we conclude building that the walls are able to shield even though the available cosmic rays coming from that direction are limited. c. If the count inside the building is statistically the same as outside the building, then we will need to compare that number with one floor of shielding as counted on floor 6. 2. Data: Hold the detector at 0o so that it is getting hit by the greatest number of cosmic rays. Collect counts in 5 minutes. Detector is outside the balcony. Place the detector on a plank and clamp detector to plank. Push plank out over table and rail so that it is extended from the balcony. 3. Detector is clamped to an 8’ long particle board that is extended from the balcony rail by some number of feet to be determined based on trials at ground level. C clamps can grab the wood of the box and the plank without interfering with the paddles. 4. Measure counts w/detector inside the stairwell. Detector is clamped to same plank in order to reduce variability of set up and environment. 5. Repeat at each floor level. 6. Use floors 1 through 6 so that each floor has a “floor” above it for shielding. Do not go to floor 7 where there is no floor above you. 7. Do not go to the basement where the concrete walls may be radiating at you in a way that is different from the walls and windows of an above ground floor.
IV. Supplemental Information (Figures, Tables, References, etc., including one figure that depicts the layout of the experimental apparatus) see next page – drawing
PAN PROPOSAL ELEMENTS (all sections should be completed)
Description of Experiment (no more than 2 pages of text for items 1through 3 – double spaced, 12pt; no limit on figures or tables; figures, tables and references to come at the end of the text)
Please organize material under the following headings or their equivalent:
1. Physics justification, including background and references. Why is this interesting? 2. Goals of proposed experiment, including hypothesis. 3. Experimental details—what is to be measured; technical feasibility of measurement; count rate estimate for error analysis 4. Supplemental material (Figures, Tables, References, etc.). One figure must be a layout of the experimental apparatus.
I. Physics Justification We understand that cosmic radiation should not be significantly reduced by the atmosphere as we change elevations reached by a 6 story building. We are assuming that buildings have a lot more matter and electrons which will interact with the muons and thus reduce cosmic rays reaching that destination. We understand that different buildings may have different capabilities with regard to shielding, based on different building materials. We understand that naturally occurring isotopes radiate and will increase the count attained in any experiment.
II. Goals of the proposed experiment We propose to test the hypothesis that the building materials used in Owen Hall are relatively “normal” and that they shield one based on the floor you are on. Our hypothesis is that any difference in cosmic ray numbers is based on the shielding from the building.
We are trying to control for the radiation given off by the building. If we could write a great model for the building’s ability to shield, it would take into account the rate at which cosmic radiation is reduced by increased elevation and the rate at which te building produces radiation.
III. Experimental Details Materials: from NSCL: Detector, plank, extension cord, laptop, ruler from team: stopwatch
1. Calibration: This will tell us what the building is producing. Hold detector at 90o so that we can measure horizontal radiation from the walls. Get a count inside and outside the building to compare background and building. This step will take 10 minutes of count so that the error rate will be as small as possible. a. If the count inside the building is significantly higher than outside the building, then we conclude that the building is contributing to the count. b. If the count inside the building is significantly lower than outside the building then we conclude building that the walls are able to shield even though the available cosmic rays coming from that direction are limited. c. If the count inside the building is statistically the same as outside the building, then we will need to compare that number with one floor of shielding as counted on floor 6. 2. Data: Hold the detector at 0o so that it is getting hit by the greatest number of cosmic rays. Collect counts in 5 minutes. Detector is outside the balcony. Place the detector on a plank and clamp detector to plank. Push plank out over table and rail so that it is extended from the balcony. 3. Detector is clamped to an 8’ long particle board that is extended from the balcony rail by some number of feet to be determined based on trials at ground level. C clamps can grab the wood of the box and the plank without interfering with the paddles. 4. Measure counts w/detector inside the stairwell. Detector is clamped to same plank in order to reduce variability of set up and environment. 5. Repeat at each floor level. 6. Use floors 1 through 6 so that each floor has a “floor” above it for shielding. Do not go to floor 7 where there is no floor above you. 7. Do not go to the basement where the concrete walls may be radiating at you in a way that is different from the walls and windows of an above ground floor.
IV. Supplemental Information (Figures, Tables, References, etc., including one figure that depicts the layout of the experimental apparatus) see next page – drawing
