ERIC Number: EJ1354825
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Jul
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-9120
EISSN: EISSN-1361-6552
Cloud Chamber Kit for Active Learning in a First-Year Undergraduate Nuclear Science Seminar Class
White, A. E.
Physics Education, v57 n4 Article 045034 Jul 2022
This paper presents the design and reports on the use of a simple and inexpensive cloud chamber kit that is compatible with active learning, experiential learning, and project-based learning strategies. The kit was developed for use in a first-year undergraduate nuclear science seminar class at a university in the US. Diffusion cloud chambers are commonly used in classroom demonstrations to teach students about cosmic rays and ionizing radiation. A variety of clever and novel cloud chambers found in the literature were built and tested as part of this work and are all suitable for instructor-led classroom demonstrations. However, each has drawbacks that limit its use in hands-on classroom activities as part of active learning, experiential learning, and project-based learning in the classroom. The purpose of this work was to develop a cloud chamber 'kit' that can be built in less than 10 min by students during class and guarantees student success in observing background radiation. The cloud chamber kit was found to be highly sensitive to background radiation, and several different types of high-energy particles, including muons or anti-muons, electrons or positrons, photoelectrons, and alpha particles, were detected and identified using the kits at a rate of over 20 tracks per minute measured indoors at sea level at latitude 42.3601° N. The simplicity of the cloud chamber kit presented here makes it compatible with a variety of best practices for active learning in the classroom and requires little preparation time outside of class.
Descriptors: Science Instruction, Undergraduate Study, College Science, Nuclear Physics, Demonstrations (Educational), Hands on Science, Active Learning, Experiential Learning, Scientific Concepts, Radiation, Secondary School Science
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A