Building a cloud chamber for Science Fair

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around building a cloud chamber for detecting particles, specifically focusing on the decay of pions in the atmosphere. Participants explore the feasibility of the project, share resources, and discuss the expected outcomes related to particle detection, including electrons and muons.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses interest in detecting particles from pion decay and seeks advice on methodology and materials for building a cloud chamber.
  • Another participant confirms that building a cloud chamber is feasible and suggests that muons from cosmic rays and particles from natural radioactivity may be detected.
  • Resources for building a cloud chamber, including instructions from CERN and video tutorials on YouTube, are mentioned as helpful for the project.
  • There is a suggestion to build a cloud chamber without the need for dry ice, indicating alternative methods may exist.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that building a cloud chamber is possible and that it can detect certain particles. However, there is no consensus on the specific particles that will be observed or the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully resolved the details of the experimental methodology, including the specific materials needed and the expected outcomes of the project.

Emmanoether
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Hello physicists,

This is my first time on these forums, so I'm sorry if this isn't the right place. Feel free to move it if it isn't.

I am building a small cloud chamber to detect particles resulting from the decay of pions in the atmosphere for a local science fair. I hope to see electron and muons, as those are the products I predicted from research of particle decay. I'd like to test the effects of observing time on the number of particles detected.

I have asked my physics teacher; she does not have very much information about building a cloud chamber, only the theory behind its functioning. I asked the chemistry teacher at my high school, but she does not believe that these particles could be detected. In order to meet a deadline for my project, I went ahead with background research.

I am now attempting to describe an experimental methodology, but I am having trouble writing the procedure because I don't know what materials I will need. Any advice or resources would be greatly appreciated, and I will acknowledge you in my presentation. Don't worry about offending me if the project won't work; I'd rather find out now than in front of the judges! I can post my bibliography if that would be useful.

~Emmanoether
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Building a cloud chamber is certainly possible, and google finds many pages with instructions, including one from CERN.
In addition to muons from cosmic rays (you won't see other particles from them in a relevant rate), you'll see particles from natural radioactivity in and around the cloud chamber.
 
mfb said:
Building a cloud chamber is certainly possible, and google finds many pages with instructions, including one from CERN.
In addition to muons from cosmic rays (you won't see other particles from them in a relevant rate), you'll see particles from natural radioactivity in and around the cloud chamber.

Thank you very much for your quick response. I will continue research and post again if I have another question.
 

Similar threads

Undergrad How Do Positrons Reach Cloud Chambers Without Annihilating?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
Undergrad Help getting my Cloud Chamber to work please
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad What are these directional energetic particles?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Undergrad Concentrated arcs in bubble chamber photos
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
High School Beta particle penetration in our cloud chamber?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Undergrad My cloud chamber didn't make any tracks....
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
9K
Graduate Ionizing Radiation in a Cloud Chamber
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Undergrad Identifying trails in a Cloud Chamber
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
8K
High School Cloud Chamber Building for 9th Grader: Dry Ice vs. Peltier Cooler
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
5K
High School Homemade cloud chamber not working
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
28K