Embedded Files
Team Members:
Students: Josh Cannon (Gr. 11), Tyler Frank (Gr. 10), Devon Redekop (Gr. 12)
Precious Barraquio (Gr. 10), Tia Hampton (Gr. 12), Madison Weinbender (Gr. 11), Tabitha Vellacott
Olivia Peterson (Gr. 11), Montana Jacobson (Gr. 12), Ashley Bakus (Gr. 10)
Teacher: Mr. Gunstenson
In March, we were made aware of an opportunity to access the Canadian Light Source (CLS) and conduct an experiment on our own local soil samples. We applied for the opportunity, and in late April, we found out that we were one of ten schools selected (in Saskatchewan and Alberta) to attend the CLS!
A Bit About How the CLS Works:
The intention is to provide students with a taste of a scientific inquiry experience using a Big Science facility. The soil sample experiment connects to the SK curriculum and was approved by Health and Safety staff at the CLS. We were asked to pose a scientific question that we would like to investigate about our own local soil samples.
We were using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectroscopy using the IDEAS beamline.
This technique, on this beamline, shows the concentrations of the first row of transition elements (plus a few more) relative to each other in a sample.
XRF works by exposing the sample to a beam of higher energy x-ray, in this case approximately 13,000 electron volts (eV). As each atom in the sample absorbs that energy it fluoresces, or gives off its own x-rays. Each element absorbs energy and fluoresces in specific and known ranges. The detector captures, counts and measures the energy of the fluoresced photons. The students use that information to identify which elements are fluorescing and therefor, present in the sample.
Here is an example of what data looks like (this is not data from any of our samples... just an example:
The x axis is the energy of the x-rays coming from the sample and the y axis is the number of photons detected. So, each peak in the graph above indicates the presence of a specific element and the height of the peak indicates the concentration. We know that Ca fluoresces at 3700 eV, Mn at 5900 and Fe at 6400 eV and so we can say that in this sample that there is more Fe than anything else and that there is more Ca than Mn. You will identify all of the peaks/elements in their sample and will be able to compare different samples by comparing the graphs.
For more information, view this slideshow:
More about the science behind CLS
A Bit About the Experiment:
We obtained our soil samples from the lagoon which is just south-east of the school. We took each sample from 4 inches below the surface and at distances of 0 feet, 5 feet, 10 feet, 20 feet, 50 feet, 100 feet, 200 feet, and 300 feet from the perimeter of the lagoon. We also took a sample from a local garden and a rural field sample. Below shows the approximate sample locations by the lagoon:
Experiment Day
We departed Herbert School at 9 am and Arrived in Saskatoon at the CLS at 1 pm. We were certainly overwhelmed with what we were about to become a part of:
We were greeted and spent the next 3 hours with Anna-Maria Boechler. She gave us a quick tour and then took us down to the hutch (where the magic happens).
David Muir (Beamline Scientist) & Tyler (Summer Student) worked with us for 2 hours preparing, scanning, and analyzing our samples:
Olivia and Tia preparing their samples:
Josh and Precious preparing sample and then loading sample onto stage for beamline;
Precious ensuring that the Hutch has is empty of other people and setting the electromagnetic locking mechanism which then enables the beam to enter the room:
Olivia and Ashley prepping their samples then taking them to the hutch with Tyler:
Tia and Tabitha loading their samples:
Discussion about results and Montana our data tracker:
Relative amounts of elements in samples:
The Data!!!
You can download the data files and use excel along with the Word document instructions to chart the data... it is very easy.
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