Particle Physics & Science Research Exploration Course! (A Section)

Please Note: there are 2 sections of this course, Part A (offered in Fall semester) and Part B (offered Winter/Spring semester), which cover different topics. Students can take them in any order. 
Starting in January, Part B will be offered - to view Part B, please go to the link below:
https://outschool.com/classes/particle-physics-science-research-exploration-course-part-b-nsu7b5jl
(Note: it may be necessary to copy-paste this link into a web browser.)

In this 14-session semester course , we'll explore a wide variety of topics in particle physics and science research! Topics to be investigated include:
1. New developments in particle physics and astrophysics 
2. News about science research and innovative science-based businesses
3. Citizen science projects
4. Award-winning and historically significant physics/science researchers and their work

Each class session will have a specified curriculum, plus there will be time for student discussion and sharing of student interests. This course aims to support a community of young learners excited to discuss and explore physics & science concepts!

Course topics explore areas such as the Higgs Boson, Graviton, String Theory, Black Holes, Wormholes and many other subjects, as listed below:

Session 1 
- The new James Webb Space Telescope
- Mission to Uranus and Neptune to find Dark Matter?

Session 2
- New developments in understanding the Higgs particle 
- College students develop a new way to recycle PVC

Session 3 
- Transparent Solar Cell technology - Ubiquitous Technology
- Citizen Science Project: Solar Jet Hunter

Session 4 
- Introduction to the Graviton (a proposed but unproven gravity particle) and String Theory
- Exploring Electron Scanning Microscopes

Session 5 
- Review of the 4 fundamental forces of the universe (Gravity, Electromagnetic Force, Strong Force, Weak Force)
- Dwarf Stars: red, yellow, brown and white. 

Session 6 
- Exploring Black Holes: definitions, origins and types
- Time allowing: Research atomic elements of the Periodic Table

Session 7 
- Review of the Electromagnetic Force and modern inventions utilizing it
- Discuss a new Electric Motor design by a 17 year old student inventor

Session 8 
- Exploration of Radioactivity: Alpha Particles, Beta Particles and Gamma Rays
- Discussion about Carbon Dating

Session 9
- Explore spectroscopy and spectrometers
- Learn about the history of the Periodic Table and the use of spectroscopy to identify elements 
- Learn about the uses of spectroscopy in astrophysics (to identify elements on different planets and stars), in science research and in products (like the Apple Watch)

Session 10 
- Citizen Science Project: Galaxy Zoo - help categorize images of distant galaxies
- Webb Telescope images

Session 11 
- Exploring Wormholes, Black Holes and Einstein's General Theory of Relativity

Session 12 
- The Discovery of Graphene, the first 2-dimensional material to be manufactured
- New developments in other 2-dimensional materials

Session 13 
- NASA's DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) Mission
- Near-Earth Objects and how NASA tracks them

Session 14 
- Circular Economy concepts; Linear Economy compared to Circular Economy
- Examples of Circular Economy products and processes; students brainstorm ideas for Circular products

To view B section class times, please go to the link below (copy-paste link into a web browser):
https://outschool.com/classes/particle-physics-science-research-exploration-course-b-section-nsu7b5jl