Homemade Cloud Chamber

[joelodom]

Yes, I pulled it from a smoke detector. A larger heat gradient would help. I used dry ice. Nitrogen makes for a little better chamber.

[mgregggphone]

That appears to be a alpha source from a smoke detector in there.

Is that correct?

Pretty cool. Would a larger heat gradient help the chamber work better?

What are you using to cool it?

[panzuman]

@X00C wow ur an angry person

[RobCardIV]

the little girl or boy is cute sounding.

they are curious.

speak more to them :)

thats my favorite thing about having a daughter. Talking about interesting things, like the experiment you created.

[KarbineKyle]

Pretty Cool. You can make a nice cloud chamber with a Am-241 source(s) from a Smoke Alarm. Try different sources, such as Radium-226. You can find luminous hands in older watches that would work. You CAN find Ra-226 sources in some older model smoke alarms. You would have to really look hard to find one though. Also, make sure the alcohol you use isn't watered down either. Putting it inside a vacuum apparatus will give you much better results. Just letting you know! Keep it up!

[MAPSTEW]

Hey Fishandcrap, pog mo thoin!

[MAPSTEW]

i was in a band called "the wilso cloud chamber" back in the 80's, and yes , we built one, but the band had much more energy!! ireland yeah!!!

[XxTwinky]

ahhh i see i guess its hard to see on computer

i just dug out an expantion cloud chamber but sadly the source was past its 1/2 life so i got nothing lol

[XxTwinky]

haha i dont think what you had there has any alpha radiation from what i say all you saw was from the sun not the element

[joelodom]

Most of the vapor trails extended like spokes from the source and only went an inch or less. That would be the alpha. The stray solar radiation was much easier to see.