StarLogo Project:
Bubble Chamber
WHAT IS IT?
This project simulates some of the simple behaviors of a
bubble chamber. Here, one can explore the behavior of
several charged particles subject to a perpendicluar
magnetic field. The particles produce trails similar to
those seen in bubble chamber photographs.
HOW TO USE IT
Click the SETUP button to initialize all values and to clear
the screen. Then click on the ELECTRON (blue turtles),
POSITRON (red turtles) , and PROTON (green turtles) buttons
to place these respective particles at rondom points on the
screen. As many or as few of these particles as desired can
be created. To begin the simulation click GO.
The FIELD slider controls the strength of the uniform
magnetic field perpendiclar to the computer screen (i.e. the
field goes through the screen. The range of the field goes
form -100 t0 100.
The FRICTION slider controls the amout of friction
contributed by the gas in the bubble chamber. When the
value is high the particles are slowed down and stop more
quickly. At lower values the particles travels for longer
amounts of time.
THINGS TO NOTICE
It is interesting to note that the proton goes in the same
direction as the positron since it shares a common charge
but it curves much less and travels less because of its
greater mass. The electron on the other hand has an opposite
charge and thus curves in a opposite direction but it lasts
and curves just as much as the positron since they share a
common mass.
EXPLORATIONS
* Change FIELD from positive to negative or vice versa while
the simulationis running. What should happen to the
curvature of the particles? What do you observe?
