Build a linear accelerator model
(2024) In Science in School- Abstract
- Build a linear accelerator to demonstrate spallation – the source of high-energy neutrons used by the new European Spallation Source being built in Sweden.
In this activity, we build a model of a linear accelerator (linac) called a Gauss cannon. It uses magnetic attraction and momentum transfer to accelerate a series of steel balls, representing protons. At the end of the track, one ‘proton’ will collide with a bunch of balls or marbles, which represent the neutron-rich nucleus of a tungsten atom. If the initial ‘protons’ have sufficient energy, they will be able to release the ‘neutrons’, thereby modelling the spallation process. - Abstract (Swedish)
- Build a linear accelerator to demonstrate spallation – the source of high-energy neutrons used by the new European Spallation Source being built in Sweden.
In this activity, we build a model of a linear accelerator (linac) called a Gauss cannon. It uses magnetic attraction and momentum transfer to accelerate a series of steel balls, representing protons. At the end of the track, one ‘proton’ will collide with a bunch of balls or marbles, which represent the neutron-rich nucleus of a tungsten atom. If the initial ‘protons’ have sufficient energy, they will be able to release the ‘neutrons’, thereby modelling the spallation process.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/a9e2e283-0fe6-49bd-984f-e1d89bcbc044
- author
- Lewis, Joanna and Michalak, Lukasz LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024-04-04
- type
- Contribution to specialist publication or newspaper
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- linac, linjäraccelerator, modell, fysikundervisning, linac, linear accelerator, model, teaching physics
- categories
- Popular Science
- in
- Science in School
- issue
- 67
- pages
- 6 pages
- publisher
- EIROforum
- ISSN
- 1818-0361
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- a9e2e283-0fe6-49bd-984f-e1d89bcbc044
- alternative location
- https://www.scienceinschool.org/article/2024/build-a-linear-accelerator-model/
- date added to LUP
- 2024-04-04 12:10:44
- date last changed
- 2024-04-05 09:49:32
@misc{a9e2e283-0fe6-49bd-984f-e1d89bcbc044, abstract = {{Build a linear accelerator to demonstrate spallation – the source of high-energy neutrons used by the new European Spallation Source being built in Sweden.<br/><br/>In this activity, we build a model of a linear accelerator (linac) called a Gauss cannon. It uses magnetic attraction and momentum transfer to accelerate a series of steel balls, representing protons. At the end of the track, one ‘proton’ will collide with a bunch of balls or marbles, which represent the neutron-rich nucleus of a tungsten atom. If the initial ‘protons’ have sufficient energy, they will be able to release the ‘neutrons’, thereby modelling the spallation process.}}, author = {{Lewis, Joanna and Michalak, Lukasz}}, issn = {{1818-0361}}, keywords = {{linac; linjäraccelerator; modell; fysikundervisning; linac; linear accelerator; model; teaching physics}}, language = {{eng}}, month = {{04}}, number = {{67}}, publisher = {{EIROforum}}, series = {{Science in School}}, title = {{Build a linear accelerator model}}, url = {{https://www.scienceinschool.org/article/2024/build-a-linear-accelerator-model/}}, year = {{2024}}, }