With the aid of a labelled diagram, describe the operation of a diffusion type cloud chamber. 

With the aid of a labelled diagram, describe the operation of a diffusion type cloud chamber.

• The base of the chamber is maintained at low temperature, about -80⁰c by the solid carbon dioxide while the top of the chamber is at room temperature, and so there is a temperature gradient between the top and the bottom of the chamber.
• The air at the top of the chamber is saturated with alcohol vapor from the felt ring. This vapor continuously diffuse downwards into the cooler regions so that the air at the chamber is super saturated with alcohol vapor.
• Radiations from the radioactive source S cause the ionization of the vapor.
• The ionizations from the radioactive source S cause condensation of the vapor on the ions formed, hence the path of the ionizing radiations are traced by series of small droplets of condensation.
• The thickness and length of the path indicate the extent to which ionization has taken place.
• Alpha particles produce short, thick, continuous straight tracks
• Beta particles which are less massive produce longer, thin but straggly paths owing to collisions with gas molecules
• Gamma radiations are uncharged and for ionization to take place, it must collide with an atom and eject an electron which then ionizes the vapor.

Please Subscribe to promote this website. Subscription is free

Share with a friend

Your comment is valuable

Thank you so much