Drawing like Feynman

Introduction

This lesson was developed as part of QuarkNet, a program sponsored by the Fermi National Acceleratore Laboratory (Fermilab). The program introduces high school teachers and students to today's reesearch in elementary particle physics.

This project can be incorporated into the high school physics curriculum in a number of ways:

• During the study of forces--the fundamental forces are examined.
• During study of electrostatics--Coulomb attraction and repulsion.
• During study of conservation of momentum and energy.
• During study of the Standard Model.
• As an extended activity for students who wish to take these concepts further.
• As a study of the history of "Modern" Physics

Learners

This lesson is anchored in high school physics, and is appropriate for all grade levels, 9-12. It can be investigated at a completely conceptual level or it may include mathematical problem solving of the sort appropriate for an AP class.

Students should have some familiarity with the concept of force, electric charge, and be comfortable with units of measurement. 

Process

1. Assign students to cooperative learning goups of three or four
2. Have students delegate roles within their team (a member may have more than one role):
• Principal investigator--responsible for coordinating the activities of the team
• Theory researcher--responsible for finding and sharing information about the Standard Model
• Biography researcher--responsible for finding and sharing information about Richard Feynman
• Feynman diagram researcher
• Biography writer--responsible for producing the biography 
3. Monitor students research of topics--resources are provided for the Standard Model and Feynman diagrams:
• Richard Feynman
• The Standard Model --special attention to:
• What is the world made of?
• What holds it together?
• Particle decays and annihilations 
• Feynman diagrams
4. Allow appropriate time for research (one week recommended)
5. Collect completed Internet Information Record
6. Provide an appropriate Feynman diagram for analysis
7. Provide an appropriate event for diagramming
8. Have student teams present analyses and diagrams
9. Assess Feynman diagram activities and provide feedback to students

Assessment

Two-thirds (66%) of a student's score for this assignment will be based on the evaluation from a rubric* for the

1. Written Feynman biography
2. Feynman diagram
3. Presentation of analysis of Feynman diagram

The remaining one-third (33%) will be based on a peer evaluation* by the other team members of each student''s contributions to the success of the project.

*These documents require the Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing and printing.

Conclusion

This activity is designed to enable students to more fully understand some of the events that occur in elementary particle physics. They should also realize how powerful tools like models and drawings allow us to picture what is unseeable.

 Consider:

• Other models of ideas in physics 
• Models in biology
• Models in chemistry
• Other models in science
• Models of ideas in other realms of knowledge 

Credits

Images
The D0 Experiment
J. Eric Slone and www.FeynmanOnline.com

Background Information
The Particle Garden, by Gordon Kane
Introduction to Elementary Particles, by David Griffiths

Special thanks
Dr. Phil Baringer, University of Kansas
Dr. Alice Bean, University of Kansas