Particle Physics Detective
In 1932, physicist Carl D. Anderson discovered the positron (the antimatter equivalent of the electron) by using a cloud chamber. Can you think like a Nobel laureate and use your physics sleuthing skills to discover new particles?
What is a cloud chamber?
In the early days of particle physics, cloud chambers were used to study charged particles: how massive they were, how they reacted to a magnetic field, et cetera. Cloud chambers are able to do this by being filled with a fluid teetering at the edge between gas and liquid: any disturbance to the matter, such as an electric charge, would cause the fluid to condense, which shows up as a dark line in photographs. Thus, scientists were able to observe particles as they moved around in these chambers, and could induce collisions in an attempt to discover new ones.
While moving through a cloud chamber, particles tend to follow some predictable paths. Electrons and positrons spin around in spirals according to their magnetic field, while losing energy due to passing through dense fluid.
Ready to try?
We've simulated some cloud chamber pictures for you to dissect, from easy to challenging. You can also generate a random collision of particles. Don't forget about neutrinos - they don't show up in the picture, so you're going to have to figure out where they are!
