Big Machine Reveals Small Worlds Additional Information

December 15, 2011 at 3:11 pm

Recommended Web sites:

To learn more about the Australian synchrotron, visit www.synchrotron.vic.gov.au/ (Australian Synchrotron).

For basic information about synchrotrons, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchrotron (Wikipedia).

For a list of synchrotrons around the world, and links to each, go to www-als.lbl.gov/als/synchrotron_sources.html (The Advanced Light Source).

To learn more about particle accelerators, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particle_accelerator(Wikipedia).

Teachers: A variety of educational resources about particle physics is available at www.particleadventure.org/other/othersites.html (Particle Data Group).

Books recommended by SearchIt!Science:

The Ever-Changing Atom— Roy A. Gallant

Published by Benchmark Books/Marshall Cavendish, 2000.

What is the “stuff” the world is made of? For centuries, nobody knew about atoms or matter. People thought that the world was made of four elements—Earth, air, fire, and water—until the Greek thinker Democritus came up with the idea that matter was made of atoms, or particles that could not be broken into smaller parts. Much later, chemists such as Robert Boyle, John Dalton, and Amedeo Avogadro introduced the ideas of elements, atoms, and molecules. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, scientists began to explore electrons, X rays, isotopes, and radioactivity. Along with discussing the history of atomic theory, this book explores the splitting of the atom, fission and fusion bombs, and radioactive waste. The final chapter discusses particle physics. Color photographs and illustrations accompany this comprehensive history of our ideas about the atom. The book includes an index and a glossary.

Wilhelm Roentgen and the Discovery of X Rays— Kimberly Garcia

Published by Mitchell Lane Publishers, 2003.

Late one night in 1895, while conducting electricity experiments in his laboratory, William Roentgen discovered “invisible light.” To test his invention, he asked his wife to place her hand on a photographic plate—for 15 minutes! That first X ray would become more famous than Roentgen could ever have imagined! Today, X rays are used not only in medicine; they are also used to authenticate paintings, stamps and coins, and for other uses as well. This book includes photographs and reference tools, including an X-ray time line, a glossary, suggested reading list (including Web pages), and an index.

Waves: The Electromagnetic Universe— Gloria Skurzynski

Published by National Geographic Society, 1996.

Did you know waves surround you no matter where you are? “They strike you, warm you, burn you and shoot right through your body.” These invisible waves make up the electromagnetic spectrum—infrared, visible light, ultraviolet waves, X rays, and gamma rays. Discover how knowledge about these rays is taking science in new directions. A glossary and index are included.

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Power Words

From The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary and The American Heritage® Children’s Science Dictionary.

atom The basic structure of a chemical element. Atoms have a nucleus that contains protons and neutrons and is surrounded by electrons that move around it in orbits at high speed. When atoms combine together, they form molecules.

electron The particle in an atom that has a negative electric charge and revolves around the nucleus in an orbit. Atoms combine to make molecules by sharing electrons.

synchrotron A device that accelerates charged subatomic particles, such as protons and electrons, in a circular path, greatly increasing their energies. Unlike cyclotrons that consist of a continuous spiral through which particles are accelerated, synchrotrons consist of a single tube in the shape of a large ring. The particles rotate over and over again through this tube at increasing speeds. Synchrotrons are used to study subatomic structures.

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