Homemade Expansion Cloud Chamber

A simple homemade expansion cloud chamber. This type of cloud chamber was invented by Charles Wilson in 1911. It is used to make visible, the paths taken by ionising radiation particles.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• cloud
• chamber
• ionising
• radiation
• nuclear
• adiabatic
• expansion
• wilson
• physics

[crnazvijezda]

Great video!

I have two questions for you:

1. I have got Isopropyl alcohol (video head cleaning liquid) but there is not any word about percentage. Would this kind of alcohol be usefull for cloud chamber?

2. Can I use LED diode for source of light or need light bulb (maybe because of heating)?

Thanks for very good instructions!

[teralabUK]

@crnazvijezda Your head cleaning fluid is probably quite dilute alcohol. It should still work though. It might just take a bit longer to evaporate. LED lighting will be fine as long as it is bright. A modern high intensity white LED should work better than a filament lamp.

[yellowmetalcyborg]

VERY NICE! I'm definately trying this.

Just one question though, I have a voltage amplifier from a disposable camera that can reach voltages of over 300V, can I use it even though the amperage is pathetically low?

[teralabUK]

The current required is practically zero. A camera flash supply should work fine. The peak current available from a camera flash is actually very high if the capacitor is still in circuit. Please be careful.

[tootoll]

I'm experiencing a problem and i hope you can help me. I've made an effort to reproduce your experiment. I have a cube made out of glass that's connected to a vacuum pump of sufficient capacity producing vacuum by expansion. I also have an outside electric field ranging from 10-300V. I have a problem spotting alpha particle traces (source: Am241). Is that possible with the naked eye? Do i need a camera? A high speed or a convectional one?

Responde please tootoll@hotmail.com

[teralabUK]

The tracks are easy to see with the unaided eye. You don't need a vacuum pump. I simply used a 50ml plastic syringe. You need something soaked in high purity isoplropyl alcohol in the chamber. You also need a bright light and ideally a black background to view the tracks against. It obviously has to be air tight.

[teralabUK]

Thanks, that's really helpful. This is a demonstration of an expansion cloud chamber, not a diffusion cloud chamber. There are hundreds of diffusion cloud chamber videos on You Tube.

[RubertaLang]

Thanks for your demonstration, very well done!

[lecorfec]

Très belle démonstration!

even if I don't understand one peculiar point: are cloud chambers only working with low partial pressure of alcohol or would it works with "alcohol only" vapour?

In this case coud we imagine a cloud chamber of condensing "full" vapour at room temperature and a fraction of atmospheric presure ? Thank again for your work!

[ConnorXV]

hey good video,

Would i be able to ditch the syringe and instead heat the glass to quite a high temperature when attach it to the lid, so when it cools down it leaves a slight vacuum? i say this because it should then be 'permanent' shouldn't it? I want a little desk top piece like this to sit in my room so i can stare at it.

[marmaladekamikaze]

Is this Chamber suitable to be used to detect background Cosmic rays?

[MindCrazedBanjo]

@yellowpetalcyborg Make sure you switch off at the fuse box! and remove the fuse before you start playing with electricity.

[yellowmetalcyborg]

@teralabUK Nah, don't worry, I removed the capacitor, for safety's sake. I've used high voltage lots of times, I am aware of the dangers, thanks for your concern.