Thursday 22 June 2017, 10.00AM to 4.00pm
Join the Department of Physics at the Unviversity of York for a Nuclear Masterclass: open to all students studying A level Physics (or equivalent).
There will be two different streams running during the day:
Workshop 1: The Hot CNO Cycle in Supernovae
Discover the nuclear reactions happening in stars during stellar explosions in an activity demonstrating half-lives and the random nature of radioactive decay.
Workshop 2: Neutron Stars and Fundamental Forces
Investigate a computer simulation of the liquid drop model of neutron stars and learn about the influence of the fundamental forces at the nuclear scale.
Workshop 3/4: Binding Blocks: Building the Universe one Nucleaus at a Time
Explore the concept and applications of binding energy through building a LEGO nuclear chart. Follow nuclear decay chains and research the uses of different isotopes.
Workshop 1: Advanced gamma detection for nuclear experiments and applications
Utilise advanced gamma detectors to analyse energy spectra and identify unknown sources and materials.
Workshop 2: Fusion technology
Visit the University's Tokomak Control Room and find out about methods of creating nuclear fusion as a power source.
Workshop 3/4: Binding Blocks: Building the Universe one Nucleaus at a Time
Explore the concept and applications of binding energy through building a LEGO nuclear chart. Follow nuclear decay chains and research the uses of different isotopes.
09.45 - 10.00 Arrival
10.00 - 10.10 Welcome
10.10 - 10.40 Lecture: An introduction to Nuclear Physics
10.40 - 10.55 Tea/Coffee
11.05 - 11.50 Workshop 1
11.55 - 12.40 Workshop 2
12.50 - 13.20 Lunch
13.30 - 14.15 Workshop 3
14.20 - 15.05 Workshop 4
15.15 - 15.45 Lecture: Cutting-Edge Nuclear Physics
15.45 - 16.00 Evaluation
Groups of less than 5 students from any one school may attend without a teacher. However, they must have consent from both their school and parents.
A maximum of 30 students may attend from any one school: 15 in each strand.
Students are not required to be in school uniform.
Tea/coffee/water will be available at breaks, but all attendees will need to bring a packed lunch.
For further information about the day, please see: www.york.ac.uk/physics/public-and-schools/secondary/nuclear-masterclass/
For more information about the Binding Blocks project, please see: www.york.ac.uk/physics/bindingblocks
For more information about Nuclear Physics at the Unviversity of York, please see www.york.ac.uk/physics/research/nuclear/
Location: Department of Physics, University of York