Why is My Homemade Cloud Chamber Not Working?

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In summary, a homemade cloud chamber may not work due to several factors, including inadequate cooling, insufficient alcohol vapor, improper design, or poor sealing. The temperature gradient must be extreme enough to condense the vapor, and the chamber must be airtight to maintain the necessary conditions. Additionally, using the wrong materials or not allowing enough time for the chamber to stabilize can hinder its functionality. Troubleshooting these elements can help in achieving successful operation.
  • #1
marshall-10488
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I have a cloud chamber made of a metal plate above dry CE with a Fish tank and 99.9% isopropyl alcohol. Get droplets falling no trails
So I made a cloud chamber. I'm using 99.9% isopropyl alcohol, And a lot of it soaked into cotton wool at the top of a fish tank. That's on top of a metal plate painted black with socks filled with dry ice from fire extinguishers (can't buy dry ice easily in the UK).

I leave it for 10 mins or so I get droplets falling but no trails. I've even added uranium glass and a thorium gas lamp filament in there and still see no trails just droplets falling. Can move a torch round and see those drops easy but absolutely no position gives me any trails.

Any ideas what my issue is? Can you over saturate the alcohol? It soaks up a hell of a lot of it when I pour it in on dry cotton wool.
 
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Yes that is an iron/nickel meteorite holding it down 😂
1000041872.jpg
 
  • #3
I had the same problem, until I put much more dry ice and the plate must directly touch the ice (really push on it) as much as possible. Also too much isopropyl alcohol can over saturate the chamber so be careful that the droplets are not too big (more like a really fine mist above the plate). Then shine a strong light from the side.
 
  • #4
couple things. Make sure the chamber is sitting airtight on the plate. even a little air intrusion can ruin your visibility. Also, we used attached self-sticking felt to the top of the chamber. Be careful of overusing the alcohol - you don't want rain, just fog. One trick to create more of an evaporative environment is to use a heating pad on top (where your meteorite is). lastly, if you don't have much dry ice, you may need a smaller chamber. We built an aquarium sized one but saw much more defined tracks in a much smaller container.
 
  • #5
marshall-10488 said:
TL;DR Summary: I have a cloud chamber made of a metal plate above dry CE with a Fish tank and 99.9% isopropyl alcohol. Get droplets falling no trails

So I made a cloud chamber. I'm using 99.9% isopropyl alcohol, And a lot of it soaked into cotton wool at the top of a fish tank. That's on top of a metal plate painted black with socks filled with dry ice from fire extinguishers (can't buy dry ice easily in the UK).

I leave it for 10 mins or so I get droplets falling but no trails. I've even added uranium glass and a thorium gas lamp filament in there and still see no trails just droplets falling. Can move a torch round and see those drops easy but absolutely no position gives me any trails.

Any ideas what my issue is? Can you over saturate the alcohol? It soaks up a hell of a lot of it when I pour it in on dry cotton wool.
I had a similar setup too, mine accidentally worked using 70% ethanol when I ran out of 99% isopropanol, just try to experiment with different alcohol types and do small changes to your setup to see if it works.
 

FAQ: Why is My Homemade Cloud Chamber Not Working?

1. Why can't I see any tracks in my cloud chamber?

There could be several reasons for this. First, ensure that the chamber is properly cooled; the temperature should be significantly below the dew point to create supersaturation. Additionally, check if there is enough ionizing radiation present; without it, there won't be any visible tracks. Lastly, verify that the alcohol or other working fluid is adequately saturated in the chamber.

2. What type of alcohol should I use in my cloud chamber?

The most commonly used alcohol for cloud chambers is isopropyl alcohol or ethanol. Both have suitable vapor pressures and can create the necessary supersaturation. Make sure to use a high-purity grade to avoid impurities that could affect the performance of the chamber.

3. How do I know if my cloud chamber is properly sealed?

A properly sealed cloud chamber should not have any noticeable leaks that would allow the working fluid vapor to escape. You can perform a simple test by checking for condensation on the outside of the chamber. If there is condensation, it may indicate that humid air is entering, disrupting the supersaturated environment. Additionally, ensure that all joints and connections are airtight.

4. Why does my cloud chamber fog up instead of showing tracks?

Fogging can occur if the chamber is not cooled enough or if the alcohol vapor concentration is too high. This results in a mist rather than the distinct tracks of charged particles. To fix this, ensure that the temperature is sufficiently low and adjust the amount of alcohol used to achieve the right balance for supersaturation.

5. How can I improve the visibility of the tracks in my cloud chamber?

To enhance track visibility, ensure optimal lighting conditions. Using a bright LED light or a flashlight directed at the chamber can help illuminate the tracks. Additionally, you can try using a darker background or adding a contrast-enhancing material to make the tracks stand out more clearly against the chamber's interior.

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