Edinburgh Schoolgirl tests Einstein

From 14 to 24 October, visitors heading for the Top Station at Cairn Gorm Mountain will be able to see a particle physics experiment in progress.

“Physics has always interested me, and I jumped at the chance to be involved in such a unique experiment” said Ingrid Burt, from Penicuik’s Beeslack High School, who will be conducting the experiment.  She will be helped by, amongst others, the Particle Physics Experiment Group at The University of Edinburgh.

The experiment involves the detection of very fast-moving particles called muons, which are created when cosmic rays from outer space collide with air molecules in Earth’s atmosphere.

The muons travel around 15km down to the surface of the planet, and travelling at the speed of light, this journey should take about 50 millionths of a second.

But as muons only survive for a short time - 2.2 millionths of a second - only a few of them should actually arrive down here on the ground.

“Travelling at the speed of light, very few muons would be expected to survive the 15-kilometre journey through the atmosphere,” explains Alan Walker from the University’s Particle Physics Experiment group.

For full details see http://www.ed.ac.uk/news/051014einstein.html