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William;
It seems to me if you want to introduce cosmic radiation then
an external source of alpha and beta radiation is not going to do it.
You need a source of cosmic radiation. If however you are interested
in the cloud chamber then thorium will do just fine.
There is a problem that has been touched on here that labels
may have a hard time engaging visitors to look at and to understand
cosmic radiation. They are random and take some patience to observe.
I imagine a close to ideal arrangement where the visitor steps into a
cloud chamber on the floor with a cloud chamber overhead so that
visitors can more easily visualize the cosmic rays passing though
them. It is not the best practice to encourage visitors to lay on top
of the cloud chamber and anyway it is not easy to see the cosmic rays
passing through yourself as you lay on the cloud chamber. Any
engineering solutions?
But I think that it worth the effort of testing labels and
talking to visitors until we get it right.
Cheers,
Martin
>This topic brings up an interesting question: What makes an exhibit
>"good." Or even "engaging."
>Certainly I like the particle detecting cloud chambers, and yet, as an
>exhibit, I think they leave an extraordinary amount to be desired. I have
>never seen people engaged with the exhibit unless they already knew about
>cloud chambers. And considering the cost...
>However, I have wondered whether adding another interactive element
>(exposing different sources of radiation to the cloud chamber to increase
>the number of trails, etc), might elucidate a bit of what's going on and
>draw people in more. Now I haven't tested that idea yet, as we don't have
>a cloud chamber (due to the cost).
>
>-William
>
>William Katzman "The important thing is to never stop
>questioning." -A. Einstein
>Director of Exhibits "Are you sure about that Al?" -His wife.
>Catawba Science Center
>ph: (828) 322-8169 x307
>fax:(828) 322-1585
>[log in to unmask]
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: David Taylor [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Monday, June 21, 2004 10:29 PM
>Subject: Re: Over head mirrors for exhibitions
>
>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
>institutions.
>************************************************************************
>*****
>
>Jeff,
> I can't tell you how disappointed I am to hear you
>say that the cloud chamber isn't engaging to you.... they are
>one of my favorite exhibits. It is partially in the way you get
>visitors to look at these things... I admit that it always works
>best when there is someone near by to ask... do you know
>what those are? But if you can engage the visitors into thinking
>about things buzzing around them all the time that they can't
>see or feel, it gets them to think in new ways...
> I also think they are an example of art in nature... the
>patterns and trails are as wonderful for me to look at as some
>of Ned Kahn's swirling pieces.
> My best story about them comes from overhearing a couple
>of astronomers from the University of Washington standing around
>one I used in an exhibit (they were there for the opening) and
>hearing one of them say... you know...I've studied this stuff for
>more than 20 years, but never really seen it... this exhibit helped
>him, like hopefully many of our visitors, take something they might
>know as book learning and contextualize it.
> Anyway... as you can tell... I love Cloud Chambers and watching
>the alpha, beta and gamma ray paths that are left behind...it breaks
>me out of my everyday way of looking at the world.
>
>Dave Taylor
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
>> From: jeff courtman <[log in to unmask]>
>> Reply-To: Informal Science Education Network
><[log in to unmask]>
>> Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 21:18:15 -0500
> > Subject: Re: Over head mirrors for exhibitions
>>
>> hey martin check with science place in dallas (paul vinson - you can get
>> his email off their web site scienceplace.org)
>>
>> they had one a couple of years ago and i think they used a mirror...
>>
>> i've always loved this particular exhibit - as much for the aesthetic as
>> anything else. seen at other centers and confess not sure how many
>people,
>> particularly kids 'get it' (whatever that means.....) in other words,
>never
>> seen it be what i might call a real engaging exhibit/experience. my
>2cnts
>> :)
>>
>
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--
Martin Weiss, Ph.D
Director of Science
New York Hall of Science
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