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Subject: PhysicsGrade Level: Introductory courses at high school or college level
Abstract: Students use conservation of momentum to calculate the mass of the top quark. This activity examines the fingerprint of a top/antitop production that took place in the D-Zero Detector at Fermilab on July 9, 1995. This activity will build on student understanding of vector addition and depends upon only a small amount of particle physics explanation.
Learner Description/Environment: This acitivity is suitable for a typical introductory physics class either at the high school or university level. We provide two methods of delivery, a traditional activity introduced and led by the teacher or an on-line version where the students control their own learning.
Time Frame: One or two days
Learner Outcomes: Students will know and be able to:
Alignment with Standards:
- Calculate the mass of the top quark from real data
- Apply what they have learned about vector addition to a real problem.
- Apply their understanding of conservation of momentum to real data.
- What national standards does the project address?
Activity Evaluation: We are interested in your suggestions to improve this site. Please send comments to the program contact below.