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Online Particle Physics Information

Particle Data Group

Particle Physics Education Sites


General Sites Background Knowledge Physics Lessons & Activities Astronomy Lessons & Activities Ask-A-Scientist  Experiments, Demos and Fun Physics History & Diversity Art in Physics

General Sites

Argonne National Laboratory K-12 Programs
Includes links to a variety of information and programs such as ArthmAttack, NEWTON, and the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest.
Contemporary Physics Education Project (CPEP)
Provides charts, brochures, Web links, and classroom activities. Online interactive courses include: Fundamental Particles and Interactions; Plasma Physics and Fusion; Nuclear Science; and The History and Fate of the Universe.
Educational Information
This Particle Data Group site provides links to three subsites each filled with well-designed and visually attractive information: The Particle Adventure; Contemporary Physics Education Projects' Educational Materials; and then a set of links to Physics Education Sites.
Fermilab Education Office
Outstanding collection of resources from the "grandmother" of all physics lab educational programs. Sections are organized for students and educators by grade level and for general visitors.
Particle Physics Education Sites
This rich site maintained by the Particle Data Group provides links to many other educational sites.   Includes links to classroom activities, and various international education and outreach websites.
Physics Education Resource Guide
A SmartScholar guide, with some 40 valuable links, to find physics resources that can help students learn about famous physicists via primary sources, prep for an upcoming quiz or exam, design lessons, play games or learn from experts in the field about current and exciting news and research.
PhysLink.com: Education
This site provides sub-lists of online resources in the following areas: History of Physics and Astronomy; Essays on the interface between science, art, religion and philosophy; Astronomy; Graduate School and Student Advice; Software (reviews); References and Learning Sites for Educators; Youth Science; and New Theories.

Background Knowledge

Albert Einstein Online
A meta-Einstein site with links to dozens of resources by and about this scientist. Organized into Overviews; Moments (recollections of Einstein by others); Physics; Writings; Quotes; Pictures; and Miscellaneous.
Antimatter: Mirror of the Universe
Find out what antimatter is, where it is made, the history behind its discovery, and how it is a part of our lives. This award-winning site, sponsored by the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, (CERN), explains to big kids and little kids alike the truth (and fiction) about antimatter. Features colorful photos and illustrations, a Kids Corner, and CERN physicists answering your questions on antimatter.
Big Bang Science: Exploring the Origins of Matter
In clear, concise, yet elegant language, this Web site, produced by the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council of the UK (PPARC), explains what physicists are looking for with their giant instruments called accelerators and particle detectors. Includes a brief history on how scientists came to define what is fundamental in the universe. Big Bang Science focuses on CERN particle detectors and on United Kingdom scientists' contribution to the search for the fundamental building blocks of matter. In addition to information on the how and why of particle physics, this site also shows particle physics as an international collaborative endeavor.
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
This Stanford Linear Accelerator Center Web site explains basic particle physics, linear and synchrotron accelerators, electron gamma showers, cosmic rays, and the experiments conducted at SLAC, including real-world applications. Intended for the general public as well as teachers and students.
The World of Beams
A site to visit if you wish to know a little or a lot about laser beams, particle beams, and other kinds of beams. Includes interactive tutorials, such as: What are Beams?, Working with Beams, and Beam Research and Technology. A good resource for physical science units involving energy, structure and properties of matter, and motion and forces for Grades 8-12. The information here is also helpful if you plan to tour any of the national laboratories listed in the "Libraries" section of this guide.

Physics Lessons & Activities

Contemporary Phyiscs Education Project (CPEP)
This site is especially designed to help teachers bring four areas of physics to their students in an accessible and engaging format. Provides charts, brochures, Web links, and classroom activities. Online interactive courses include: Fundamental Particles and Interactions (includes lesson plans), Plasma Physics and Fusion, and Nuclear Science (includes lesson plans and simple experiments).
Fermilab Education Office
Outstanding collection of resources from the "grandmother" of all physics lab educational programs. Thoughtful unit and lesson plans in both physics and the environment (Fermilab is located on a rare, protected prairie in Illinois). Sections are organized by grade level.
GLAST Classroom Materials
The Gamma Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) project and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Education and Public Outreach Office have developed this colorful, in depth, and engaging Web site teaching about the origin and structure of the universe and the fundamental relationship between energy and matter.
Imagine the Universe
Created by the Laboratory for High-Energy Astrophysics at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, this site features astronomy and astrophysics lesson plans for age 14 and up, teacher's guides, classroom posters, and links to other classroom resources. Activities are linked to National Standards for Science and Math. Lessons include: What is Your Cosmic Connection to the Elements?, Life Cycle of Stars, and Gamma-Ray Bursts. Also included in the Teacher's Corner are links to math-science lesson plans for grades 6-12. The Multimedia Theatre Archive provides more than a dozen movies with free downloadable viewing software.
Jefferson Lab Science Education
This well-organized, visually attractive Web site from the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, supports science and math education in K-12 classrooms. Features hands-on physics activities, math games, and puzzles. Check out the All About Atoms slide show and the interactive Table of Elements.
The Particle Adventure
One of the most popular Web sites for learning the fundamentals of matter and force. Created by the Particle Data Group of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. An award winning, interactive tour of the atom, with visits to quarks, neutrinos, antimatter, extra dimensions, dark matter, accelerators and particle detectors. Simple elegant graphics and translations into eleven languages.
Physics Applets
A large collection of interactive JAVA applets for use in Physics, Astronomy, or Environmental Science courses.  Your browser must be set to allow JAVA and popups from the home site.
QuarkNet
QuarkNet brings the excitement of particle physics research to high school teachers and their students. Teachers join research groups at 60 universities and labs across the country that are associated with particle physics experiments at CERN, Fermilab, or SLAC. Students learn fundamental physics as they participate in inquiry-oriented investigations and analyze live, online data. QuarkNet is supported in part by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Astronomy Lessons & Activities

Hands-On Universe
Enables students in middle and high schools to investigate the night sky without having to stay out late. Created by a collaboration of teachers and students including the Lawrence Hall of Science at the U.C., Berkeley, it uses high quality astronomical images to explore central concepts in math, science, and technology. Students analyze real images with image processing software similar to that used by professional astronomers.
Imagine the Universe
Created by the Laboratory for High-Energy Astrophysics at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, this site features astronomy and astrophysics lesson plans for age 14 and up, teacher's guides, classroom posters, and links to other classroom resources. Activities are linked to National Standards for Science and Math. Lessons include: What is Your Cosmic Connection to the Elements?, Life Cycle of Stars, and Gamma-Ray Bursts. Also included in the Teacher's Corner are links to math-science lesson plans for grades 6-12. The Multimedia Theatre Archive provides more than a dozen movies with free downloadable viewing software.
Space Today Online
This news magazine covers space from Earth to the edge of the universe. It provides news, history, encyclopedia-like explanations of terms, activites, people and events, historical summaries, etc. and an outstanding collection of images covering all aspects of space.
Windows to the Universe
Provides a rich array of material for exploring earth and space, physics, geology, and chemistry in K-12 classrooms. Includes numerous, thorough lesson plans on topics ranging from the solar system to atmosphere and weather to physics and chemistry. Student-centered activities such as Building a Magnetometer or Create Your Own Cloud are simple, yet highly engaging.

Ask-a-Scientist

Ask A Scientist Service
Questions are answered by volunteer scientists throughout the world. Service provided by the Newton BBS through Argonne National Lab. Submission form permits very specific age information to be included with the question so that the answer can be targeted to the questioner's level of knowledge.
Ask the Experts
Submit questions via a form to PhysLink.com. Questions are answered for free. Submission form warns that they won't answer questions from homework assignments or help design something for a science fair or competition. Has links to commonly asked questions and to a list of the most active scientists who provide answers.
Mad Scientist's Network: Ask a Question
Scientists at this Web site respond to hundreds of questions a week. Be sure to check out their extensive archive of answered questions and use their Science Fair Links for ideas for projects. Also note questions they decline to answer.

Experiments, Demos & Fun

All About Light
From Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, a delightful collection of pages explaining classical, relativistic and quantum descriptions of light.
CANTEACH: Physical Science
Canadian elementary teachers have put together a list of investigations and hands-on physics experiments for elementary level. These well-written physical science lesson plans feature such activities as Making a Pinhole Camera, Air Takes Space, Acid and Basic Test, Growing Crystals, Potential and Kinetic Energy, and Evaporation Painting.
The Edible/Inedible Experiments Archive
Part of the Mad Scientist's Network, this Web site covers astronomy, mathematics, and physics. Each experiment uses common materials and identifies whether the experiment is edible, inedible, partially drinkable, or not all that edible (!).
Helping Your Child Learn Science
A wonderful introduction and set of tools for parents of elemenatary-age children compiled by the U.S. Department of Education. Provides ideas, home experiments, community-based science activities, and more.
Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics
An entertaining and educational site to learn how many movie special effects violate the laws of physics. Includes a rating system for movie reviews. Heavy on text, with few graphics. Equations are included. A good way to emphasize, at the high school level, the immutability of the laws of physics in the real world. Provides instructions on how to use movie physics in the classroom and a bibliography.
Physics: Science Phys/Sci Demos
This Web site provides over fifty physics demonstrations on the topics of density, motion, force, angular measurement, waves and sound, electricity and magnetism, optics and nuclear physics. Some of the demos feature photographs. Most of the demos are original, although a few were taken from the T.V. program, Newton's Apple. The high school teacher who created this site has won both a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and the 2003 Classroom Connect Internet Educator of the Year Award.

Physics History & Diversity

AIP Center for the History of Physics
This site, produced by the American Institute of Physics, aims to preserve and make known the history of modern physics and allied fields including astronomy, geophysics, and optics. Of interest to teachers and students is the Exhibit Hall, with award-winning exhibits including photos and facts about Marie Curie, Einstein, the discovery of the electron, and the invention of the transistor.
A Century of Physics
A timeline from the American Physical Society providing a comprehensive history of major physical science developments with a selection of other events from society, art, politics and literature. Provides a physical timeline, an index, a search sytem and reproductions of the posters and images.
Contributions of Twentieth Century Women to Physics
A great resource for that history of science paper, this archive features descriptions of important contributions to science made by 83 women in the 20th century. Provides historical essays and links to additional documentation such as primary source materials. 
Education and Outreach Committee on the Status of Women in Physics
Interested in inspiring a young woman to pursue physics? This American Physical Society site features Physics in Your Future, which conveys the exciting possibilities of a career in physics to middle and high school girls. Copies of this four-color booklet are available at no charge to students and their parents, educators, guidance counselors, and groups who work with young women. Available online in PDF.
PhysLink.com: History of Physics and Astronomy
This site, which is a compendium of other history of physics, astronomy and science sites, organizes that historical world into: General guides; Histories of physics, of astronomy and space exploration, and of mathematics; Online archives; Museums and exhibits; and Famous scientists. Provides solid information about some of the most well known people and events in the physical sciences.
Nobel Laureates in Physics 1901 - Present
Maintained by Stanford Linear Accelerator Center Library, this site provides very comprehensive information on physics laureates. Links to the Nobel Foundation's pages on each laureate. Also lists the location(s) of the laureate's prize-winning work, where, if appropriate, the laureate is currently working, and where she or he was working when the work was done. Links to books, related Web sites, and to the HEP Database for in-depth bibliography. An interesting Quick Facts section provides great trivia about some of the prize winners.

Art in Physics

Please Note: This modest collection of physics art links is provided for high school art, photography and literature teachers who may be interested in the intersections between science and technology and art and literature, or who wish to take an interdisciplinary approach to the curriculum in collaborating with their science department colleagues.
Hidden Cathedrals -- Science or Art?
Part of a secton of the Web site explaining how physicists study particles, this page provides fifteen brilliantly detailed color photographs of the inner workings of particle detectors at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) which is the world's largest particle physics center.
Physics Icons
A video by Chip Dalby, SLAC Sci/Arts Media Group, showing particle physics as delicate, experiential art. This meditation on the shifting nature of physics iconography was featured in the New York Museum of Modern Art's P.S.1 exhibit, Signatures of the Invisible.
 
Essays and Books on Art in Physics and Science:
  • Essays contributed to Physlink.com that explore the interface between science, art, religion, and philosophy.
  • Gallery: Dawn Meson by Raven Hanna. A review of Meson's series of particle physics-inspired paintings "Sum over Histories". Link is to a PDF version of Symmetry Magazine, that does not match the print page numbers -- search for the thumbnails labelled 26 - 29. In the print edition of the magazine, the review begins on pg. 24.
  • Physics Meets Art and Literature feature story by Peter Rodgers in Physics Today, November 2002.

Online Particle Physics

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Owner: SLAC Research Library
Updated: April 25, 2017