Track Cosmic Rays in a Cloud Chamber - Revision history

WikiSysop: /* Look for Cosmic Ray Tracks */

2013-11-19T14:18:31Z

Look for Cosmic Ray Tracks

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:18, 19 November 2013
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	==Look for Cosmic Ray Tracks==		==Look for Cosmic Ray Tracks==

	Turn on the ~~lamps~~. The room lights should be off.		Turn on the LED flashlight. The room lights should be off.
	Look down into the chamber. Near the bottom you should see a light fog		Look down into the chamber. Near the bottom you should see a light fog
	from large droplets. As you watch, suddenly a straight track will appear		from large droplets. As you watch, suddenly a straight track will appear

2013-11-19T14:18:08Z

Adjust the Illumination

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:18, 19 November 2013
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	you can see tracks. It works best if the light enters the chamber		you can see tracks. It works best if the light enters the chamber
	without hitting the edge of the bottom pan. Once you think you have		without hitting the edge of the bottom pan. Once you think you have
	the ~~projector~~ adjusted right, turn off ~~the lights~~ and wait about 10		the LED light adjusted right, turn it off and wait about 10
	minutes. This should be enough time for the alcohol vapor to reach the		minutes. This should be enough time for the alcohol vapor to reach the
	proper state~~. The high voltage clearing field should be off while~~		proper state.
	~~the chamber cools~~.

	==Look for Cosmic Ray Tracks==		==Look for Cosmic Ray Tracks==

2013-11-19T14:16:59Z

Add Dry Ice

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:16, 19 November 2013
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	will push it		will push it
	into contact with the bottom of the chamber.		into contact with the bottom of the chamber.
	Because dry ice is so cold that it could		''Because dry ice is so cold that it could
	burn you, whoever handles it has to ~~wear gloves and~~ be very careful.		burn you, whoever handles it has to be very careful.'' Use a paper towel, a plastic bag, or gloves to protect your hands.
	It is best to let the assistant do this for you, but you should observe		It is best to let the assistant do this for you, but you should observe
	the process.		the process.

2013-11-19T14:15:24Z

Add the Alcohol

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:15, 19 November 2013
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	==Add the Alcohol==		==Add the Alcohol==

	The bottom plate of the chamber has felt on one side. Pour a generous		The bottom plate that goes inside the chamber has felt on one side. Pour a generous
	amount of methyl alcohol into the bottom of the chamber and insert the		amount of methyl alcohol into the bottom of the chamber and insert the
	bottom plate felt side down.		bottom plate felt side down.

2013-11-19T14:13:14Z

Clean the Windows

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:13, 19 November 2013
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	==Clean the Windows==		==Clean the Windows==

	~~The~~ cloud chamber we will use for this experiment in the lab		Although the cloud chamber we will use for this experiment in the lab
	has ~~two~~ light sources and ~~a high voltage~~ power supply.		has its own light sources, we will use an LED flashlight because it provides a brighter light through the chamber and less stray light that hides the tracks we seek. The lab cloud chamber also has power supply that is intended to help clear tracks, but we will not need it for this experiment.
	~~The voltages are a shock hazard~~		Therefore, there is no need to have power supplied to the instrument, and for your safety make sure that
	~~if the~~ power ~~is on while~~ the ~~chamber is~~		the power switch is ``off'' when
	~~open.~~		the chamber is open.
	~~Make~~ sure that the power switch is ``off'' when
	the chamber is open. Check that the windows are clear. You may need to		Check that the windows are clear. You may need to
	clean them off with a little ~~distilled~~ water on a paper towel. It helps if		clean them off with a little water on a paper towel. It helps if
	you do this this just before you close the chamber. If you leave a thin		you do this this just before you close the chamber. If you leave a thin
	film of		film of
	~~distilled~~ water on the windows		water on the windows
	they will be less likely to fog when the chamber is cooled.		they will be less likely to fog when the chamber is cooled.

2013-11-18T22:05:07Z

How They Work

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:05, 18 November 2013
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	This video shows you how you can also make one at home:		This video shows you how you can also make one at home:

			<center>
	[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=400xfGmSlqQ How to Make a Cloud Chamber]		[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=400xfGmSlqQ How to Make a Cloud Chamber]
			</center>

	==Clean the Windows==		==Clean the Windows==

2013-11-18T22:04:41Z

How They Work

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:04, 18 November 2013
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	windows in the side of the box.		windows in the side of the box.
	The arrangement of a cloud chamber and an illuminating projector		The arrangement of a cloud chamber and an illuminating projector
	is shown in the photo. We use an LED instead ~~flashlight~~ now.		is shown in the photo. We use an LED flashlight instead now.


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	from the side to make them		from the side to make them
	visible briefly.		visible briefly.

			This video shows you how you can also make one at home:

			[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=400xfGmSlqQ How to Make a Cloud Chamber]

	==Clean the Windows==		==Clean the Windows==

2013-11-18T22:02:08Z

How They Work

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:02, 18 November 2013
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	windows in the side of the box.		windows in the side of the box.
	The arrangement of a cloud chamber and an illuminating projector		The arrangement of a cloud chamber and an illuminating projector
	is shown in the photo.		is shown in the photo. We use an LED instead flashlight now.


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	forms a supersaturated vapor. Cosmic rays passing through the vapor		forms a supersaturated vapor. Cosmic rays passing through the vapor
	cause it to condense and mark tracks of the particles.		cause it to condense and mark tracks of the particles.
	A ~~slide projector~~ illuminates the tracks		A light source illuminates the tracks
	from the side to make them		from the side to make them
	visible briefly.		visible briefly.

2012-01-06T23:44:09Z

← Older revision	Revision as of 23:44, 6 January 2012
(No difference)

2011-11-29T07:02:27Z

How They Work

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:02, 29 November 2011
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	The arrangement of a cloud chamber and an illuminating projector		The arrangement of a cloud chamber and an illuminating projector
	is shown in the photo.		is shown in the photo.


			[[File:Cloud_chamber_with_lamp_sm.jpg\|600px\|center]]
			<center>Cloud chamber illuminated with a projector.</center>



	Dry ice cools		Dry ice cools