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3B Scientific Cloud Chamber User Manual

Page 3

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Subject to technical amendments

© Copyright 2007 3B Scientific GmbH

3. If, instead of paper, a very thin film of Hostaphan is
placed in front of the source (thickness 5 to 10

μm, or

0.7 to 1.5 mg/cm

2

), it can be seen that nearly all the

α−particles pass through the film without any signifi-
cant deviation or shortening of their range. Thus,
α−particles can pass through thin films of materials.
This experiment is analogous in a qualitative way to
Rutherford’s scattering experiment, and shows that
the structure of matter consists largely of gaps. In-
stead of Hostaphan, thin foils of other materials can
also be used, such as gold leaf. The easiest way to
handle such a foil is to tape it over a hole in a strip of
adhesive tape (Sellotape or Scotch Tape).