How to Build a Cloud Chamber!

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A cloud chamber is a simple device that allows you to observe the decay of radioactive materials. Learn how to make your own! [Closed Captioned]

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Science & Technology

Tags:

• cloud
• chamber
• radiation
• radioactive
• alpha
• beta
• particle
• lead-210
• pb210
• decay
• isopropanol
• isopropyl
• alcohol
• trails
• nuclear
• disintegration
• science
• education
• fun
• cool
• experiment
• frostbite
• theater
• jefferson
• lab
• jlab
• yt:quality=high

[JeffersonLab]

Portions of this video have been reshot and re-dubbed. Please follow the link in the description to view the updated video.

[athf226]

Couldn't you dismantle a smoke detector for a radioactive source to cut out speaking to a dealer?

To get the Americium. That is, of course, it is a smoke detector using Americium :P

[JeffersonLab]

@athf226 In theory, sure. I'm just not sure what regulations you violate by doing so. You can check Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations Part 30 to see.

[cinedux]

apologies! :-)

[JeffersonLab]

@cinedux No worries.

[cinedux]

don'tcha mean halloween?

[JeffersonLab]

@cinedux No, since it looks a little like fireworks.

[SonOfFurzehatt]

It alarms me slightly that these people are saying 'ponolium' instead of 'polonium'.

[JeffersonLab]

@DeafPizzaCrust It depends on how it's used. Holding a block of dry ice in your hand isn't the best move that you could make. I don't know what doctors do with dry ice, but I imagine they just don't stick it against your forehead. There are lots of ways I can hurt myself with a scalpel, too, but doctors use them anyway.

[athf226]

@JeffersonLab Ah, fair enough! Mostly wondering because I knew that it had a source of radiation that most people have at hands. Was not aware of the regulation, thanks for pointing that out!

[JeffersonLab]

@panzuman You mean bismuth-209? They only discovered that it was radioactive in 2002. It's something like 10 billion times less active than U-238. You're not going to get a thing using it in a cloud chamber. But, let me know how it goes anyway. It'll be highly interesting if you get it to work!