Is it too ammbitious for four freshmen to do this?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility and safety concerns of four freshmen attempting to design and build a cyclotron without advanced knowledge of physics. It includes considerations of safety, oversight, and alternative project suggestions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether it is overly ambitious for freshmen to undertake such a project, emphasizing their willingness to learn and work hard.
  • Another participant argues that safety issues and costs make the project impractical, suggesting that it may be pointless to pursue building a cyclotron.
  • A third participant reiterates the importance of safety, highlighting the potential dangers associated with constructing a cyclotron, such as lethal voltages and radiation, and recommends supervision by experts.
  • A participant with a background in radiation safety emphasizes the need for significant oversight and expresses skepticism about the project's ambition and safety.
  • One participant suggests that creating a conceptual design on paper could be a valuable learning experience without the risks associated with actual construction.
  • Another participant agrees with the need for expert supervision and expresses a strong reluctance to undertake the project without proper oversight.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need for safety and oversight, with multiple views on the ambition of the project and its practicality. There is no consensus on whether the project should be pursued in any form.

Contextual Notes

Participants express concerns about safety, oversight, and the feasibility of the project, but do not resolve the underlying issues regarding the ambition and practicality of building a cyclotron.

PHYSICS!!!:-)
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Is it overly ambitious for four freshman to design and build a cyclotron, if neither of them have an advanced knowledge of physics? We are all hard workers, and can leanr quickly. We will be taking half a year to learned he physics behind the cyclotron.
Thanks!
 
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Yes it is. There are many safety issues that has to be addressed and it would cost a lot to build something that actually does something more than a crt tube. I think my main issue is it's not "cool" to build this stuff,it's stupid and pointless (my opinion, I'm not calling you those). So don't do it unless you have to. Why don't you build a thermal solar plant or something?
 
PHYSICS!:-) said:
Is it overly ambitious for four freshman to design and build a cyclotron, if neither of them have an advanced knowledge of physics? We are all hard workers, and can leanr quickly. We will be taking half a year to learned he physics behind the cyclotron.
Thanks!
As Emreth indicated, it's not about the challenge or hard work, it's all about safety, with potentially lethal voltages, strong magnetic fields, and radiation if one successfully contructs a working cyclotron.

If inexperienced people (4 freshman) are doing this, then do it under the supervision of experts in an proper environment (university or other reaseach lab).

In my nuclear engineering department, a professor and graduate students built a linear accelerator. There was a lot of overight and review for the faculty, university, and state officials, including the radiation protection staff and officials.
 
I work in radiation safety, and I have to say that this would take a tremendous amount of oversight. I think it is overly ambitious and more dangerous than you'd imagine.
 
I can only add to the tune here...
 
I think you could make a conceptual design (just do the maths and physics and design one on paper) of one and then present it to some experts and find out where your mistakes and possible good ideas lie. This wouldn't cost more than time and it's a good way to learn all about it and perhaps add some new insight into those sorts of projects.
 
CRGreathouse said:
I work in radiation safety, and I have to say that this would take a tremendous amount of oversight. I think it is overly ambitious and more dangerous than you'd imagine.

Oh, I totally agree. My group is only going to actually construct it if we have the supervision of our Local University's Physics Department. If not, no way in hell. So yeah, i totally agree. No way are wwe doing this in my basement or something.
 

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