Testing Radioactive Materials in the Cloud Chamber

Today we're testing radioactive materials inside the cloud chamber! Many of you requested americium-241 from a smoke alarm, but I will also test radium-226 and uranium-238. The cloud chamber works by cooling an aluminium plate to negative 30 celcius with thermoelectric coolers and using 99% isopropanol to form a supersaturated alcohol vapor.
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[@ame7165]

as for your problem with it not working, i think you're getting heat soak. -30 is barely in the range that you need. try putting insulation around your chamber sides and just film from the top. also put ice in the coolant tank. that alone will probably work. use a thermocouple to check the temperature. that's key. if it's -20, you likely won't see anything. if you can get it colder, like -40, that's when you'll see a lot. instead of using that many, use two lower power peltiers against the cold plate, then higher power peltiers on top of those. they're horribly inefficient so the second peltier has to be a lot higher power to pump its own heat PLUS the heat from the first peltier. this is called a cascade. each peltier can drop the temperature so much. but with two layers, you can get colder. i got mine down to less than -40 by doing this. (it might have been colder but my thermal camera has a maximum of -40c). oh and you're more likely to get a chain reaction if you give the particles a charge. you need a high voltage DC source. the cheap amazon bug zappers can work

[@marks47]

Your post reminds me of another build I saw. That guy used at least two layers of peltiers to get the temperature down low enough. I'm almost sure he used a lot more than just 6, and they were stacked, for sure.

[@LuxGamer16]

@@marks47 and he used a charging grid too iirc

[@LumpyFPV]

Yeah what this guy said

[@Kevin-ht1ox]

Couldn't he just put a couple bricks of dry ice into the bucket with the washer fluid?

[@ame7165]

@@Kevin-ht1ox dry ice is colder but has much much less heat density than ice from water. it's a common misconception. it WILL get the coolant colder, but if it's not glycol or alcohol or a mixture of water and something like antifreeze, it'll freeze, which isn't ideal, so using regular ice is easy and will probably work great for this application. he's already really close to the sweet spot so the ice should get him there fine. if not, dry ice is an option too, but it'll sublimate REALLY fast in water, so he'll need to buy a ton of it. that said, there are video where people use dry ice as the main source of cooling, so it can be used, but in his case, putting it in the liquid will make it go poof really quickly, which is probably tricky while trying to film

[@bobhawkey3783]

The science center in Toronto had a big cloud chamber. It's fascinating to realize we are surrounded by speeding particles. Thanks for this! Great job.

[@blaircox1589]

Science centre in Halifax has one as well. Kids and I were playing with it while there. If it requires a static charge on the outside of the chamber, then they had that being generated somehow within an inner chamber. Come to think of it, there were thin wires running across the top of the unit (inside), if those were highly charged, that was doing it. I think I took photos, but it definitely was multiple layers of glass/acrylic between the inner chamber and the exterior cabinet surface.

[@praticle]

One of the best weekends of my life was an anime convention/rave at the Toronto science centre. Giving us after hours access to the science centre was pretty stupid but *insanely* fun while "enhanced" 😅

[@christianankney]

Saw that one as a kid and loved it. I believe the largest natural chuck of gold is also there.

[@benediktl6238]

What worked for mine was connecting the hv Modul of a bug zapper to the cloudchamber. Negative to the coldplate and the positive to a metal mesh under the sponges. You can find out the polarity of the hv Modul by hooking it up to an LED.

[@kaasvaas]

I enjoy watching you make stuf and figure stuff out! Really cool how you do this from out of the house! I wish you had more frequent posts!! Keep up te good work!

[@adamreynolds3863]

Dude! This is AWESOME!!! great job building and testing this!

[@Q3Coricoco]

A build a cloud chamber for a univeristy here in spain, that chamber uses one of this rachets to kill flyes, that devices usually has a mini transformer that reaches 3000v or even more depending on the ratchet, we install the rachet grid on top, connected to the positive, and a copper plate in the bottom connected to the negative, that should help to attrack the particles to the mist

[@EmuAGR]

Which university has that device? Interesting!

[@_DoItYourself]

Отличный опыт! Я как источник использовал старый военный компас. В обычных условиях число на циферблате было меньше 20. Когда я положил компас. Число стало больше 200!!!

[@Flowpexx]

I‘m very hyped, this video finally came out! Surely it will be great as always!

[@Creative_Electronics]

Great video Simon and nice house update :)

[@oprispaul]

I really liked the editing on this video. Great job.

[@Dazdigo]

You can get thorium from Welding Rods and polonium-210 from Static Eliminators.

[@piccalillipit9211]

YEAH TIG rods have thorium

[@Noah-ek8hp]

Regarding your problem with the cloud chamber, I have some Ideas as to why it may not be working. Some designs have a high voltage difference between the top and bottom of the chamber to make the tracks easier to see (I think this is to excite the valence electrons of the alcohol vapor but do not quote me on that). Another thing that may help is a leak or some convection in the chamber itself. If the vapor isn't still, it could make the tracks hard or impossible to see, and if there is too much of a temperature difference, convection will occur, and obviously that is not good- this problem may be due to your dual pump change. If vapor is escaping, that cold vapor doesn't have a chance to condense. But most importantly, make sure to have a great day!

[@LOGICALMAGNET]

I love how original and funny the guy from this video is :)

[@ViniSocramSaint]

love the cut to to the ad. So smooth 🤣

[@jonathansvantesson475]

Väldigt spännande video !!! Hälsningar från Jonathan som träffade dig på en cykeltur i sommars hahaah🥹😆

[@Jakubu231]

Perfectly selected music

[@juslitor]

Considering that americium-241 has a half life of 432 years or so, one can assume that your geiger counter doesnt detect alphas. Geiger tubes sensitive to alphas have a thin mica window.

[@truantray]

Plastic wrap or even water can block alphas.

[@Makex_sweden]

Great decision to make reviews on a different channel. Just subbed to it

[@lpt2606]

very informative and COOOLLL

[@Pyromancers]

Would it just be easier to use dry ice instead of peltiers? I mean I like the usablity and ease of having the system always readily available, but honestly having to chill and pump fluid and never being able to achieve those lower temps seems like a lot of moving parts and work. The ice could prolly last you all day. Unless dry ice is hard to come by in your neck of the woods. Our grocery stores and welding shops have it here in Montana.

[@HawxAnimator]

your videos are so good i watch them twice so i can watch all the bits i missed whilst blinking

[@achelp954]

This is amazing and very scientific

[@itzbakconhairitzbakconhair8276]

"One of my subscribers sent me a box full of radioactive materials" Seems about the right thing to send.

[@toka100]

As soon as I saw you had the chamber out I was thinking about my uranium glass collection. Really glad to see you had a piece. Too bad the chamber didn’t work.

[@JohnDuthie]

I wonder what would happen to a cloud chamber in a basement? Here in PA we're supposed to set up radon detectors to alert us in case of excessive radon.

[@petter5721]

Superbra avsnitt 😀👍🏻

[@thomas1000official]

im from the usa and i love u vids keep up the good work

[@hanneseichler5108]

I have an old marine pocket watch from my grandpa from the 1930-1940. i used to hold it in front of a Geiger counter in school. There was a very high count rate. Since then, I also want to build such a device to just see if I can see something. Since I know that the radioactive material could decay into radon gas I store the clock outside...

[@righthoekstra]

Good job on the new house&garage, and girl offcourse!

[@mazchen]

I have no idea what I am seeing here, but it sure is beautiful!

[@zundappwatercooler]

Yeah🎉 welcome back 😂 nice video👌

[@chopracer]

you should try making a MHD underwater thruster seems like something right up your alley

[@fftaufiqgamer2135]

Very nice 👍👍🙂🙂

[@glumpfi]

I don't know much about cloud chambers, but just an idea: You are using alcohol, right? Is it possible that it evaporates over time and since it is probably not pure alcohol, the water content rises. So if you refill it, it gets less concentrated over time

[@DjR3iX]

My 2 cents is that you need 2 gases, something for the particle to pick up and drag it around pure alcohol vapor, it like changes from humid to misty, so i would try co2, room relative humidity, etc in different concentrations

[@SeanHodgins]

I have a bunch of clocks and watches that are pretty radioactive from the radium. The reason radium is dangerous is because your body treats it like calcium and deposits it in your bones if you end up ingesting any particles by accident(or inhaling them). So as long as they're sealed up, its generally safe. The worst one I have no longer glows, and it still puts out 42,000CPM.

[@truantray]

Women who painted radium dials suffered horrible bone cancers because they used to lick the tips of radium paint brushes. Today we use strontium aluminate, which is not radioactive, but does not last long light to dark.

[@kmain5587]

Have you tried using Methanol instead of Ethanol in your cloud chamber? Last time I used a cloud chamber I remember methanol creating a thicker vapour than alcohol. (Although this was almost 20 years ago and we were using dry ice to cool the methanol.)

[@user-od4yl3rf4n]

It's poisonous

[@kmain5587]

@@user-od4yl3rf4n so is isopropanol and the methanol will be in a sealed chamber, I don't understand what you mean?

[@mrnlce7939]

In my professional scientific opinion it's... Gremlins! Great video. Keep up the good work.

[@siddharthpatil4917]

Finally, I see channel growth YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!! XD

[@seabeepirate]

Cloud chambers are super cool! Is the chamber grounded? Should it be? Since fluffy things cause it to work again it seems like you're probably building up and wiping away charge. Could be caused by flowing water in your cooling system.

[@Emil-eb2od]

You look so much like a living version of your 3D version of you. I cannot unsee it 😂

[@wolfaja755]

Beta and alphas don’t penetrate a lot because they’re larger and or have a larger magnetic effect on the material they’re going through, therefore they lose energy quicker and do not penetrate so far. Gammas and neutrons penetrate pretty far since they have a low mass, or no mass at all, and no charge as well meaning they have to physically hit something to lose energy which is less likely due to their size. They can have an effect on something without hitting it however it’s not in the sense of magnetic forces it’s more of a nuclear force. Also physical contact for something like a gamma is determined on its spin and the spin of whatever its hitting so an electron with a -1/2 spin and a gamma with a -1 spin means the gamma won’t be absorbed where as if the gamma had a 1 spin it would be or if the electron had a 1/2 spin it would absorb the gamma. That’s why the objects that only produce beta and alpha particles don’t seem radioactive, you just need a radiac that is made to measure these larger massed and charged particles. Geiger counters are most commonly used because alphas and betas aren’t really a threat to people. Alphas are stopped by the layer of dead skin on your body and betas are stopped by clothing and don’t penetrate your body very far. Neutrons, electrons, and gammas are the ones that can cause serious problems at high doses which is why Geiger counters are great. A cool fact is that smoking tobacco exposes your lungs to alphas which is why lung cancer is so common in smokers and alphas do 40 times more damage than a neutron. The more you know. Also a lot of radiacs are calibrated where 100cpm is considered radioactive or higher than background. Not sure what yours is calibrated at but in my line of work 100 cpm is a pretty bad day especially if you see it spike to 200 cpm. Real bad day.

[@Gunnahan]

6:58 "its so low radioactivity.... " the women painting the dials when they were produced that way (you had bigger ones for alarm- and wall-clocks too) often got ill. they licked the brushtips to get them into shape before painting.. the more you know..

[@truantray]

Radium girls. Many lost their jaws and facial bones to cancer, and many died.

[@jonclement]

that metal rod you're using to push in the samples may be discharging the vapor/liquid ions. use an insulated or acrylic rod?

[@icabobcrane8984]

You were holding the radioactive items up to the battery . The geiger tube is an m4011 ,it's glass and it is perpendicular to the battery, look though the vents on the back of the geiger counter and you can see the geiger tube.

[@LuigiGuevara]

no entendí absolutamente nada, pero igual es fascinante ver todo esto!

[@arthurclot9782]

I have seen a cloud chamber with a electric field between the bottom to the top. You can search in this direction I think.

[@5minutehacks989]

i think your issue with the tracks might be able to be solved with high voltage connected to the plate. It helped me and that might explain why rubbing a pool noodle causes it to work again (static)

[@JuliusUnique]

cloud chambers are cool af

[@jassheen5318]

A GQ GMC-600+ will give you a very satisfying alpha reading.

[@dewnl8389]

I noticed that there is a motion of the alcohol vapor from the back lights to the front. This could maybe be a convection current caused by the minimal but still existent heat from the lights.

[@Blazeww]

So what happens to those particles flying off. Do they evaporate or just go off and travel forever? And if they don't fade away is there any material or set of containment fields that can reflect them and bounce them around inside an object to make electricity?

[@curtis_ny90]

They can be used to create heat- which boils water which turns a turbine - which creates electricity. And THAT is how a nuclear power plant works. All elements have a half-life, which signifies their rate of decay. Elements (and their isotopes) which have a shorter half-life, decay more rapidly - and are classified as radioactive. Look up some simple explanation videos about half-life, and also how a nuclear power plant works. This will answer all of your questions.

[@DigiMannen]

Try using 99.9% ACS Reagent Grade Isopropyl Alcohol for saturating the vapor chamber.

[@ame7165]

there are some counters that can't do alpha particles. some do, but require you to open a door. some have a slider switch that changes the material covering the geiger tube for the three particle types. the one you have is probably just blocking alpha via the plastic shell

[@owenholden3228]

I have the same counter and it detects alpha radiation just fine

[@peter360adventures9]

Awesome.

[@deltajegga]

yeah, as other have said, you need a high voltage metal mesh above your cold plate.

[@1kreature]

On your GMC-320 you are confusing the battery for the scintillator. It's on the side of the unit behind those airvents...

[@robertsorensen5938]

Very good son, I hope they can help you with the potential problem.

[@ac9356]

Could the humidity or air pressure changes course it not to work

[@gamingSlasher]

If the static electricity dont work it might be due to the moisture in the air in summer, especially at "röten". Wait until winter....

[@ulwur]

Put some magnets in the chamber to see if you can bend the paths of the charged particles.

[@EPIC-GOLF]

Less goo he has posted😅

[@nathanieljames7462]

nuckin futs!

[@phille8176]

And now Simon SÄPO and Strålsäkerhetsmyndigheten will knock at your door🤣

[@laurahaaima1436]

Its about the moisture content and barometric pressure..

[@PhotoGraphees]

What voltage and amperes are u using to power the peltiers

[@owenholden3228]

I have the same giger counter and I have 4 pieces of americium from smoke detectors and it detects well over one thousand cpm you also don't need to open the part where the battery is just use bottom middle of the counter as it is right in the middle where the gas tube is and will detect more of the radiation that way while the part where you had it at was close to the tube it not a lot of radiation was able to be detected because most of it was flying off and not getting into the tube.

[@KodakYarr]

7:00 "it's considered harmless" _the radium girls would like to know your location_

[@bwise609]

Very cool I collect green glass

[@charlesurrea1451]

Well the sounds of any as though the case had a charge that was influencing the end result but as far as I am already see him button you're going to need to make a holder keep that eyeball tasting the vapor otherwise it just points up

[@denvera1g1]

Apparently the old travel clock with radium dials i have is way WAY more radioactive than i thought. or the detector i used is way more sensitive.

[@denvera1g1]

I just checked the video, very similar detector, 638CPM

[@minhenes]

what light source you use

[@meme-dream]

Simon can you link your other channel to the featured channels on you KZbin channel? It's easier for people to find this way

[@mikerhinos]

If there's anything related to static electricity I think that it could be a cool project to share with @ElectroBOOM 😁

[@patricioferman90]

hahahaha nice joke about the garage, saludos from Argentina

[@KodakYarr]

7:30 but if we do a little "radioactive boy scout role-playing" ☢️😋

[@ishaanpatel2905]

You should try prusament new Tungsten material It is supposed to be like a radioactive shield

[@danneeson4341]

Jag demonterade en elektrisk flugsmälla och kopplade den till ett nät under den kalla skivan och andra polen till ett nät uppe under glaset. Funkade riktigt bra.

[@begeekru]

Geiger counter does not react on alpha and betta particles.

[@gustarrezende]

There is a movie called Radium Girls which tell about the women who helped to make those radioactive watch hands. Some of them died when making it.

[@ivaneid164]

Very cool video, but update on electric boat?

[@cameronidk2]

I remember watching you to learn how to do a proper 3D lythophane.. ... nice mustache .. and Great job kid

[@abundantharmony]

How can the particles randomly turn so sharply? Why don't they all move in a straight path?

[@truantray]

He explained that, they can bounce off the alcohol vapor.

[@berserkberserk997]

YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FINALLY ANOTHER VIDEO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it hurts when it's so long between videos

[@davidanalyst671]

I wish i had a big brain, but you didn't show us a temp sensor in this video. Do you have one of those laser temp sensors? Check it when it works good, and check it when it doesn't work. NEW HOUSE!!!! This is the third time you moved on this channel isn't it? lolz. I love your projects, and hope we see many more. Your other project, the surfer, you aren't a silver surfer, but maybe the Swedish surfer..ahahahahah

[@eethon1]

you geiger doesn't detect Alpha, you need the GMC-600+. or Even go for a radiacode 102 which is a scintillator, you can have fun with gamma spectroscopy!

[@jakubtomas9154]

cool

[@Embassy_of_Jupiter]

You look like Garand Thumb's "special" brother on the thumbnail

[@beskamir5977]

The cut to pcbway lol 😂

[@GhostRyderFPV]

Any chance you can secure a Rolex or other watch that used Radium for it's luminous face to use with your table? Radium has a half life of about 1,600 years, so I imagine any watch made with it would still be emissive?

[@dalejr183]

That model detector can’t pick up Alpha radiation. The Am241 should be screaming if u have the right Geiger.

[@shakeymikesadventures6793]

Use A grounding clamp to hold item. Make sure you ground it to earth.

[@kalmanf2]

Next video will be "DIY Nuclear Reactor". Cant wait to see his face on the news 😂

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

Why did you change the video's title?

[@geekcorerob]

Yes.

[@SustainableGal]

Please use a High pass filter on your voice over sound mix, your voice is either really boomy or you use a Rode mic lol

[@AlviniZilverstand]

maybe the trails don't appear because the cold plate has heated up

[@Lizlodude]

8:40 and we wonder why people used to call science magic XD

[@RabbitsInBlack]

Where does this guy live? It's warm/hot everywhere but apparently where he lives?

[@VincentGroenewold]

Sweden

[@pneumantic6297]

Alpha and beta particles in earths atmosphere will typically be a small percentage (like 5% to 15%) of the speed of light. Beta tend to move slightly faster. Speed can greatly vary tho. The chamber temp is probably the reason for you problem. I almost guarantee the pads you were using have degraded from use and possibly amp overdraw.