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Created 3/29/16. Updates available online.

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Stern Gerlach clicker questions A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines.



Title Stern Gerlach clicker questions
Description These lecture notes include concept questions on the basic ideas of the Stern Gerlach experiment. The powerpoint includes animations of various experiments, which can be supplemented by demonstrating the same experiments with the Stern Gerlach simulation. These questions could also be used as homework, asking students to use the simulation to confirm their answers. These questions were developed for use in a sophomore level modern physics course. For more details about the course, please see: http://per.colorado.edu/modern. Please email phethelp@colorado.edu if you are a teacher and would like a solution key.
Subject Physics
Level Undergrad - Advanced, Undergrad - Intro
Type Concept Questions
Duration 30 minutes
Answers Included No
Language English
Keywords Stern Gerlach experiment, magnets, phet activity, spin
Simulation(s) Stern-Gerlach Experiment

Author(s) Sam McKagan, Kathy Perkins, Carl Wieman, and Noah Finkelstein
Contact Email sam.mckagan@gmail.com
School / Organization University of Colorado
Date submitted 9/26/07
Date updated 1/9/11

Comments

I would introduce two changes before I use this activity in my class: 1. Assuming that +y is "to the right", to denote the magnetic field in the +x direction, I would use the circle and dot symbols ("out of the screen") and display the field gradient as a spatial variation of the density of these symbols. 2. As soon as the circles (electrons) enter the field region, I would cause an "up" or "down" ("into" or "out of" if the field is along x) arrow magically to appear to denote the collapse of the spin to one or the other of the eigenstates. The arrows should be kept as the electrons are sent through the second or third Stern-Gerlach to indicate that the particles are in a "prepared" state. kevork spartalian   7/9/09

Comment on this activity

How did you use this activity or change it for your class? Answer keys are often not available because the activities are inquiry based and lead to multiple answers. Professionally constructive comments welcome.

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