Build Your Own Cloud Chamber for Particle Detection

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around building a cloud chamber for detecting particles such as muons and neutrinos. Participants share their experiences, challenges, and resources related to constructing cloud chambers, as well as the feasibility of detecting certain particles.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses urgency in needing instructions to build a cloud chamber within three months.
  • Another participant suggests that detecting neutrinos would require specialized conditions, such as being deep underground and using advanced detection technology.
  • A participant mentions that building a bubble chamber might be impractical due to its size and potential interference with electronic devices.
  • There is a reference to the Boy Scout Merit Badge requirements, indicating that building a cloud chamber is considered an accessible project.
  • Some participants humorously speculate about the capabilities of modern Boy Scouts and their funding sources.
  • One participant shares their personal experience of building a cloud chamber quickly and offers assistance to others.
  • Another participant references Dr. Kaku's experiences with building a betatron and cloud chamber, suggesting a book that provides instructions for various types of cloud chambers.
  • A participant recalls a school project involving dry ice and expresses enthusiasm for the activity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the feasibility of detecting neutrinos or the practicality of building a bubble chamber. There are varying opinions on the accessibility of building a cloud chamber and the resources required.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about the requirements for detecting neutrinos and the practicality of building certain chambers depend on specific conditions and definitions that are not fully explored in the discussion.

amwatsonbadia
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[?] I'm thinking of building a simple cloud chamber in order to detect small particles such as muons, neutrinos, and the like. I have read some handbooks but I would be grateful if someone could lend me a hand by providing some instructions. I only have three months to prepare this so I need the infotmation as a matter o urgency. Thank you all.
 
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Apperently no one here can build one.
 
rastafari II

Mr kaku in one of his books said that he built one when he was young and it took a mad amount of copper wire. i don't think you can detect nuetrinos unless you got a old salt mine 50 miles deep and some crazy ill photonic tubes to detect them. that's a grip of loot. i wanted to build a bubble chamber too. but i figured that its probly too big to put in my house and it might erase every video tape on the block.
 
Boy Scout Merit Badge requirements

It must not be too hard. It's one of the options that fulfils the activity requirement for the Boy Scout Merit Badge.
http://www.meritbadge.com/bsa/mb/024.htm



-Chris
 
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yeah but those boyscouts are all like, supernuclear physicists these days. and they
are all backed by bill gates with secret funding from the military. who do you think
pays for all those platinum plated badges?
 
Cloud Chamber Answer

I recently built one of these mechanisms myself. It took only a few hours to construct. If you still need some help or advice, I'd be glad to help you out. Please reply if you need some :biggrin:
 
Skunkmere said:
Mr kaku in one of his books said that he built one when he was young and it took a mad amount of copper wire. i don't think you can detect nuetrinos unless you got a old salt mine 50 miles deep and some crazy ill photonic tubes to detect them. that's a grip of loot. i wanted to build a bubble chamber too. but i figured that its probly too big to put in my house and it might erase every video tape on the block.


What Dr. Kaku said in his book Hyperspace is that the betatron he built in his family's garage took all that wire and dimmed the house lights when it was turned on. I believe he also built a cloud chamber, but it wasn't such a heroic project. If you can get the book The Amateur Scientist by Stong, it tells you how to build several different cloud chambers, from very simple to pretty good.
 
Easy! Did this at school. Great fun playing with the dry ice...

http://www.lns.cornell.edu/~adf4/cloud.html

Good luck catching those neutrinos by the way...
 
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