The CloudTracker
View actual tracks made by nuclear particles - in real time! 
Finally, a low-cost, high performance Cloud Chamber Kit perfect for schools, science fairs, laboratories, and hobbyists. View dramatic tracks left by high-speed Alpha & Beta particles, perform experiments that demonstrate Compton scattering, beta deflection and the photoelectric effect. View cosmic Rays as they arrive from outer space and pass through the chamber..... and much more! |
An absolutely fascinating piece of equipment that will captivate viewers for hours! 
Award winning performance in science fairs
Here's how it works:
Pure isopropyl alcohol is warmed to ambient room temperature by a heat sink located on the top of a glass chamber. The alcohol evaporates and its dense vapors begin to fill the chamber. As more and more of the alcohol evaporates, the air inside the chamber becomes heavily saturated. Located at the bottom of the chamber is a thick Copper "condenser" plate. This plate is cooled to very low temperatures with Dry Ice.
The warm alcohol vapor from above and the cold condenser plate below creates a steep temperature gradient. The result is a supersaturated environment within the chamber. This can easily be seen in the cloud chamber by the presence of fine alcohol "fog" drifting down to the condenser.
When a radioactive source is placed in the chamber, high-speed nuclear particles pass through the alcohol vapor and leave ionization trails. As the alcohol is in a supersaturated state, the vapor readily condenses onto these trails producing large cloud tracks that follow the path of the particles. These cloud trails are readily visible, similar to the familiar contrails produced by high altitude aircraft on cold days.
Since the tracks are emitted outward from the source, it is very easy to see their point of origin.
A strong electric field (1,200 volts) is used to draw cloud tracks down to the sensitive region of the chamber which is located just above the condenser plate. The electric field also serves to increase the sensitivity of the chamber and to prevent large amounts of alcohol "rain" from obscuring the sensitive region.
The black background makes it easier to observe cloud tracks and a bright white light illuminates the chamber from the side, making them very visible against the dark background. What's Included:
Everything you need to build the CloudTracker? cloud chamber and view nuclear particle tracks is included with your kit, except for the Dry Ice. Dry Ice is very inexpensive and can be purchased at any ice supply store (just look in the yellow pages under 'ice')... many larger grocery stores also carry it as well.
1 pint of pure Isopropyl alcohol is included (enough for hundreds of experiments) as well as a small
radioactive source that emits Alpha particles. Optional radioactive isotope sources can be also be purchased that emit other types of radiation for a variety of different experiments. All our radioactive isotope sources are manufactured they same day they are ordered and shipped direct to you from the NRC licensed manufacturer in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
This ensures your radioactive sources are factory-fresh and haven't been sitting on the shelf decaying for months (or years). |
In addition, you can insert your own radioactive materials into the cloud chamber (Uranium ore, radium watch dials, etc.) and view the nuclear particles produced by them.
A step-by-step Illustrated instruction booklet is included.
- Simple to operate.
- Thick, pure Copper plate used for rapid & efficient chamber cooling.
- All Copper joints are Silver soldered for maximum strength and resistance to thermal shock.
- Safe, low current & reliable 1,200 volt power supply.
- Built-in flexible lighting for illuminating cloud tracks from any angle.
- Highly insulated cooling receptacle permits hours of viewing consuming very little Dry Ice.
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Cloud Chamber Kit
