12 thoughts on “More cloud chamber tweaks

  1. omg, the quality of track in the beggining is the same i saw in the museum ! i can't believe it ! it's really a true joy to see this spectacle! the uranium ore seems to be alive ! it's so exciting ! the track which we look are electron, and alpha which dont go far away. But i don't know what kind of particle are the thinier track, thick as an hair ? maybe electron which don't go much in the supersaturated layer+

    how much alcohol did you pour in the bottom?
    do you know the temperature near the fiber glass ?
    at 2:04, is it some black sponge in the top of container ?
    congrats !!!

  2. didn't poor any alcohol on the bottom – it just pools there on its own after a few minutes.

    fiberglass itself is about -40f – not sure about the air above it.

    I think the "black sponge" is actually felt (that segment of the video is from a slightly different setup than the one pictured – where I had some alcohol soaked felt on the sides as opposed to the round felt pads)

    -Rich

  3. @anonymous – it can work with identical peltiers – just it works better if the top pelt is less powerful. the top pelt -must- be run at a lower voltage (around 5v vs 12v) for stuff to work. this has to do with excess heat generated causing a cascade (bottom pelt has to pump all heat generated by top pelt)

  4. Hmm … I cant understand – Why?
    Diffusion chamber can overcooled?
    Or problem is power source? – in "How to build" is words "At least 8 Amps" but in Peltier datasheet for 12709 is "max 9 Amps". When connected paralel two Peltiers its may be 18 Amps … Power source have only 8 Amps. Possibly it is problem?
    Or temperature lover -15 farenheit is to cold?

  5. @anonymous

    colder is better. the problem is using the same size pelts at same voltage will result in less cooling than a single pelt.

    pelts both pump and create heat – they are not perfectly efficient.

    so top pelt can pump X amount of heat – but also makes Y amount of heat.

    so – the bottom pelt has to pump X+Y amount of heat. so – it has to be larger than the top pelt (or at least run at a higher voltage).

    it took me a while to figure this out…

  6. Ok, my sixth sense say – You right. To more cold we need remove all heat of top element warm side move out.

    In "how to build" is "static source – styrofoam cup" – how it works?

    Millers

  7. @Anonymous

    lots of cloud chambers specify a high voltage source – this seems to help clear ions from the chamber – and especially helps see alpha particles

    i've found rubbing a styrofoam cup or ballon in your hair – then placing it atop the chamber provides the same effect – and is easier / cheaper to setup (a real high voltage source may work better)

  8. Polarity of high voltage is any?
    I can placed charged beer can (metalic)? This piece usuly is charged positive (some plastic in my cheap friction experiments charge negative).
    Or one of polarity ("+" or "-") is recommended?

    Millers

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