WSE 187 III 2006 Speed of Cosmic Ray Experiment Procedure

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What is the Speed of Cosmic Ray?

Objective

The motive of this experiment is to measure the speed of cosmic rays, using scintillators that detects them, and an oscilloscope that measures them. An oscilloscope measures voltage versus time (which appears on the x-axis). The distance is measured between the two scintillators. Thus knowing the distance and the time, we can find the velocity using the equation: velocity= distance/time

Materials

4 scintillators

1 oscilloscope

1 measuring tape

2 assistants

Procedure

To determine the speed of cosmic rays, we need distance and time. The distance will be measured between the two scintillators, and the time will be measured from the oscilloscope; the difference between the two waves will tell us the time the cosmic rays take to go over that distance. We will not want to have a small distance between the scintillators because then it will be difficult to read the time difference between the two waves on the oscilloscope. We will start with a certain distance, preferably around 30 cm, and move up gradually to have at least 10 points. By graphing the data as distance vs time, the slope of the best fit line will give us the velocity of cosmic rays.