Cloud Chamber

Using a supercooled, supersaturated vapour of propan-2-ol (isopropanol) which is cooled using dry ice, alpha particle tracks can be observed as white lines coming radially out from the source. The alpha particles are strongly ionising, creating many charged ions of the air molecules. These then induce a dipole in the propan-2-ol molecule which is then attracted to the ionised air molecule. This in turn induced a dipole in a further propan-2-ol molecule and eventually a track.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• radiation
• alpha particles
• decay
• tracks
• cloud chamber
• dry ice
• alpha