Team 065
Category A
** A project on radiation interpolation **
Team Members:
Carrie Hawkins
Kendal Hathaway
Tyler Merrill
Mandie Manning
To see POWER POINT PRESENTATION click here
Executive Summary
Introduction
Materials
Description
Radiation/Probes
Geographical
Positioning System
Radiation Definitions
Results
Conclusions
Aknowledgements
C++ Program
Final Report
Our project, A river
Runs Through It, involves interpolating radiation content. What our
group has done is gone out and gathered five averages radiation samples
in Kirtland and five averaged samples in Shiprock. To make our results
more accurate, we took three radiation samples at each five points and
took the average to get a more correct number. Using the Geographical
Positioning System, we plotted the latitude and longitude at which the
points were taken.
By taking samples in two locations,
we hoped to compare and contrast the results and discover if there was
a significant difference. After collecting our samples, a C++ program
of linear interpolation was sued to test the results. Our group went
and collected ten more samples already taken to be tested. With this
information, the hypothetical points were entered into the program and
a radiation reading was given in return. With these interpolated
radiation readings, we then compared them with the actual readings to discover
how closely related they were.
We learned a lot in our project.
We learned how to use the GPS unit and radiation probes correctly and we
also learned that radiation is not constant. Interpolating it is
not an accurate way to test unknown points. The only truly accurate
way is to test that specific spot with radiation probes.
A River Runs Through It is a project that encompasses interpolating radiation. A C++ program has been written to interpolate radiation content between previously known points. The interest in the project came because of the environment. Radiation is a harmful source of pollution, so our group wanted to know how much radiation was in the Kirtland area in comparison with another, nearby town.
* C++ programming language
* Geographical Positioning System (GPS)
* Radiation Probes
* TI85 Calculator
* Calculator-Based Laboratory System
(CBL)
Interpolation
Linear interpolation is a method that
is used for predicting. When using linear interpolation, three descriptions
are assumed:
1. two particular values are known
2. process is changing at a constant rate
3. a desired unknown data point is what is
to be found
Linear interpolation is, therefore, used when
a set of data points is given, from measurements at discrete values and
with a hope to find some value not included in the measured data set between
two values.
Our interpolation program involves,
first, asking the user for the latitude and the longitude of the questioned
source of radiation. Then, right triangles are made from the given
points and the new inputted points (latitude and longitude). Next,
the program multiplies the difference in the radiation points content by
the slope of the larger triangle. Finally, it takes this new value
and divides it by the negative slope at the larger triangle.
Example:
* A1 and A2 = latitude and longitude at first
known point
* A3 = radiation content at A1, A2
* B1 and B2 = latitude and longitude at second
known point
* B3 = radiation content at B1, B2
* X1 and X2 = latitude and longitude of questioned
radiation content
* W = difference in radiation contents of
known values (A3-B3)
* Y and Y1 = runs of triangles ((B1-A1) and
(X1-A1))
* Z and Z1 = rises of triangles ((B2-A2) and
(X2-A2))
* M and M1 = slopes of triangles ((sqrt((Y*Y)+(Z*Z))
and sqrt((Y1*Y1)+(Z1*Z1)))
THEREFORE:
RESULT (in Counts/Minute) = ((W*M1)-(A3*M))/-M
Conversion to NanoCuries = result*(1/37)
Radiation is defined as any form of energy
propagated as rays, waves, or energetic particles that travel through the
air or a material medium. Materials with radioactivity are made up
of unstable atoms. The energy emitted when an unstable atom gives
off its excess energy until it becomes stable is radiation. The average
American receives 360 millirems of radiation each year. Of these
360, 300 are from natural sources and 60 are from man-made activities.
If not carefully handled, radioactive materials can be harmful to the environment
and people. The longer one is exposed to radiation and the closer
they are to the source of radiation, the greater the risk to them.
Our project deals with radiation by
water sources, or, more specifically, by the San Juan River. Radon
in water does not yet have a regulatory limit that has been set and finalized.
It is likely, however, to be within the range of 300 to 3000 picocuries/L.
In our project, radiation was originally measured in counts per minute
(CPM) but in the final program, also converted into nanocuries.
Geographical Positioning System
The Geographical Positioning System (GPS)
was an inportant tool widely used in our project. The GPS is funded
by and controlled by the United States Department of Defense. The
system was designed for and is operated by the U.S. military, however,
there are many thousands of civil users of GPS world wide.
The GPS provides specially coded satellite
signals that can be processed in an GPS receiver enabling the receiver
to compute position, velocity and time. The nominal GPS Operational
Constellation consists of 24 satellites that orbit the earth in twelve
hours. The GPS unit, therefore, determines distance by the amount
of time signals take to reach the receiver.
The GPS was an important factor in our
project in that it was used to show the latitude and longitudes at which
the radiation contents were taken.
picocurie (pCI)
A common unit of radioactivity, used
to measure radioactivity occurring naturally in the environment.
One picocurie equals 10-12 curie of 0.037 becquerel; this corresponds
to one atomic disintegration about every 27 seconds--a very love
rate of activity.
curie (Ci)
A unit of radioactivity. One curie
was originally defined as the radioactivity of one gram of pure radium.
IN 1953 scientists agreed that the curie would represent exactly
3.7* 1010 atomic disintegrations per second, or 37 gigabecquerels
(Gbq), this being the best estimate of the activity of a gram of
radium. The unit it named for Pierre and Marie Curie, the discoverers
of radium.
Becquerel (Bq)
The SI fundamental unit of activity,
usually meaning radioactivity. One becquerel is the radiation
caused by one disintegration per second.
Our group has successfully written a program which inputs and analyzes interpolated radiation points, considering the radiation content is constant. Of the ten additional collected data points, only five could be used. The remaining points were out of range considering the interpolation we used was linear. Of the five usable results, the interpolated vs. the actual results has no real relation. Some are close, but some are far from each other. Radiation content is not constant and cannot be measured with interpolation. We finished our project and are satisfied, but we wish that our final results would be more accurate. We had fun doing our project and in working as a group. We attained knowledge, not only about computer programming, but also about our own environment. It has been an enlightening experience.
After spending many months researching and working with both interpolation and radiation, we discovered the inaccuracy of our program. The interpolation program itself works correctly, but the radiation variable is incorrect. The research is informative but when we put the information together, a problem is confronted. Radiation cannot be accurately interpolated, and the only true way to discover the actual content is to test the area in which you wish to discover the amount of radiation contained.
? We would like to thank our teacher and sponsor, Mrs. Janet Clafton for her insightful and helpful information in our project and for supporting us throughout the year. She has helped us stay motivated and her effort is greatly appreciated.
? We would like to acknowledge Dr. Doug Isely for his initial interest in our project and his help in learning how to use the GPS unit.
? We would also like to thank Mr. Gomer Pyle for all his help in loaning us a GPS unit and a set of radiation probes to use in the researching of our project and thanks to him for also staying interested and updated on our progress.