The cyclotron presentation helped me become much better at critical thinking. When I first started learning about cyclotrons, it seemed very confusing – there were so many parts like magnets, electric fields, and special chambers all working together. But I had to think carefully about how each part worked. I started by understanding the basic pieces: particles going in circles because of magnets, and getting faster because of electricity. Then I figured out how these pieces fit together to make the whole machine work.
The biggest challenge that made me think deeply was understanding how this machine went from being a science experiment to something that helps save lives. I had to connect the dots between the fast-moving particles in the cyclotron and how doctors use them to treat cancer. This meant thinking about cause and effect – like how the high-energy particles can target cancer cells while trying not to harm healthy cells nearby. I also had to think about why scientists kept improving the cyclotron over time, and what problems they were trying to solve.
This kind of step-by-step thinking – breaking down complex ideas, seeing how things connect, and understanding why changes happen – is what critical thinking is all about. Now I can use these same skills when I face other complicated problems, even if they’re not about science. The project taught me that when something seems too complex, I can break it down into smaller parts and think about how they work together.