Home » Teachers » Resources for VCE Physics » Unit 4 Resources » Synchrotron
Synchrotron and applications
Excursion, Resources, Classroom Activities,
Assessment Ideas, IT Applications
Excursion
The Australian Synchrotron offers school excursions. The 2 ½ hour excursion includes a tour of the Synchrotron and an opportunity to do a range of practical activities for the Detailed Study “The Synchrotron and its applications” and the Area of Study “Interactions of light and matter”. These include:
- Bragg diffraction with microwaves,
- Laser diffraction from a CD and a DVD
- Photoelectric Effect and
- Spectroscopy and energy level analysis
Each day there will be morning and afternoon sessions starting at 9:00am and 1:00pm respectively. The maximum number of students from one school for a session is 24, but if the number of students booked is less than 20, then other schools can book that session until the number reaches 20.
To book contact Melodie Aitken, the Tours coordinator .
Resources
Text Resources
Type | Filename | Filesize | |
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50.2 kB | ||
Teaching program linking the Detailed Study to the Unit 4 Areas of Study "Interactions of light and matter" and "Electric Power". | |||
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84 kB | ||
Document linking the DS, Einstein's relativity, to the DS "Synchrotron and its applications". | |||
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583 kB | ||
Prepared by Steve Treadwell for the 25th July PD event at Monash Uni. | |||
Audiovisual Resources
It is recommended that teachers should view any video before purchase. There is also a CDROM available from the AIP Education Committee. See IT applications below.
- VEA: Synchrotron- An Introduction
Type | Filename | Filesize | |
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7.32 MB | ||
Powerpoint presentation by Dr Greg LeBlanc, Lead accelerator physicist at the Australian Synchrotron for the 25th July PD event at Monash Uni. | |||
Classroom Activities
Type | Filename | Filesize | |
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125 kB | ||
A Bragg Diffraction Experiment with microwave apparatus. The pdf file includes a full page protractor to measure angles. | |||
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45.6 kB | ||
A Microwave kit to do the Microwave Bragg Diffraction experiment can be hired for oneweek for $50. This document details how to book a kit and the parts list. | |||
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17.4 kB | ||
The Microwave kit booking sheet, showing when the kits are available for hire. | |||
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28.2 kB | ||
Teachers notes for the Bragg Diffraction Experiment with microwave apparatus. | |||
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380 kB | ||
Five pages of practical activities ranging from simple exercises with everyday materials to effective demonstrations of Bragg Diffraction. | |||
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84 kB | ||
A set of X-ray diffraction graphs that students can analyse to determine the crystal spacing from a supplied X-ray wavelength. Answers are included. The spreadsheet described below was used to generate these graphs. | |||
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29.7 kB | ||
A media article on an example of a use of synchrotron radiation. Questions and answers included. | |||
Assessment Ideas
Type | Filename | Filesize | |
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20 kB | ||
A statement of expectations of the students for the SAC. | |||
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48.1 kB | ||
A synchrotron test | |||
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38.9 kB | ||
A synchrotron test question matrix. | |||
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42.5 kB | ||
A synchrotron test answers. | |||
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70.1 kB | ||
A set of synchrotron test questions with answers. | |||
IT Applications
Type | Filename | Filesize | |
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407 kB | ||
Detailed information about the Exploring Matter with Synchrotron Light CD, including a table of contents. | |||
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63 kB | ||
CDROM "Exploring matter with synchrotron light" summary showing the table of contents of each of the five sections of the CDROM. | |||
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38.9 kB | ||
An Excel file for generating X-ray Diffraction Graphs for different crystals. The file includes instruction on how to use the spreadsheet as well as a weblink to a site containing an extensive list of crystal spacing data that is used to generate the graphs. | |||
Useful Websites
The Australian Synchrotron web site
The Australian Synchrotron has a well resourced website that contains within its links all that teachers and students will need to know about the Synchrotron. When this site comes up one of the options displayed is a "Discussion Forum" which offers sections for everyone from the general public to physics teachers to research scientists specialising in a particular use of synchrotron radiation. You are welcome to join any of these sections and see what is being discussed.
The Australian Synchrotron web site resources
Their website also features an extensive set of resources available in pdf form. There are 11 files of explanatory notes, 6 files of activities, a file of video and multimedia resources and a file of useful websites.
Australian Synchrotron Project email
The Department sends out regular news bulletins by email, if you want to be on the mailing list, Send an email to Australian Synchrotron Project
Nova: Science in The News
The Australian Academy of Science runs the website Nova: Science in The News. For each news item they provide "key text", "Glossary", "Activities", "Further reading" and "Useful Sites". There is a news item on the Synchrotron, posted in November 2002.
Using Microwaves in a Sytnchrotron
A description of the microwave system in a synchrotron including the klystron, wave guides and RF cavities.
Center for X-Ray Optics
The Center for X-Ray Optics at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory works to advance the science and technology of short-wave optical systems with applications using extreme ultraviolet light (EUV), soft x-ray radiation and nanostructure fabrication. Their link "X-Ray Interactions with Matter" is very comprehensive.
Cornell University: Laboratory for Elementary-Particle Physics
Cornell's Laboratory for Elementary-Particle Physics uses a synchrotron to study nature's fundamental particles and the laws that govern them. Check 'Education' section then go down to the section for 'Educators'.
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory: Education
A link to their rsources and programs.
How stuff Works
How stuff Works: Klystrons & the 'buncher'
Linac design & operation
A description of how the linac works including the electron gun and the buncher.
Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory
Based at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Centre (SLAC), the SSRL website is well designed and comprehensive n content.
Testing Beethoven's hair
A detailed report of the use of Synchrotron radiation to analyse Beethoven's hair, which found high concentrations of lead.
Dr Peter Hammond of the University of Western Australia
Dr Peter Hammond of the University of Western australia has a website of useful images and animations.
Canadian Light Source: Synchrotron Science Classroom Resources
Over 130 pages of material under the headings 'What is synchrotron?', 'Experimental Beamlines', 'Research Applications', 'When Light interacts with Matter', 'Lessons' and 'Student Pages' with several items for each heading, each of which can be accessed separately.