How to Make a Cloud Chamber

How to Make a Cloud Chamber Although you cannot see it, background radiation is all around us. Natural (and harmless) sources of radiation include cosmic rays, radioactive decay from elements in rocks, and even radioactive decay from elements in living organisms. A cloud chamber is a simple device that allows us to see the passage of ionizing radiation. In other words, it allows for indirect observation of radiation. The device is also known as a Wilson cloud chamber, in honor of its inventor, Scottish physicist Charles Thomson Rees Wilson. Discoveries made using a cloud chamber and a related device called a bubble chamber led to the 1932 discovery of the positron, the 1936 discovery of the muon, and the 1947 discovery of the kaon. How a Cloud Chamber Works There are different types of cloud chambers. The diffusion-type cloud chamber is the easiest to construct. Basically, the device consists of a sealed container that is made warm on the top and cold on the bottom. The cloud inside the container is made of alcohol vapor (e.g., methanol, isopropyl alcohol). The warm top part of the chamber vaporizes the alcohol. The vapor cools as it falls and condenses on the cold bottom. The volume between the top and bottom is a cloud of supersaturated vapor. When an energetic charged particle (the radiation) passes through the vapor, it leaves an ionization trail. The alcohol and water molecules in the vapor are polar, so they are attracted to ionized particles. Because the vapor is supersaturated, when the molecules move closer, they condense into misty droplets that fall toward the bottom of the container. The path of the trail can be traced back to the origin of the radiation source. Make a Homemade Cloud Chamber Only a few simple materials are needed to construct a cloud chamber: Clear glass or plastic container with lid99% Isopropyl alcoholDry iceInsulated container (e.g., a foam cooler)Absorbent materialBlack paperVery bright flashlightSmall bowl of warm water A good container might be a large empty peanut butter jar. Isopropyl alcohol is available at most pharmacies as rubbing alcohol. Make sure its 99% alcohol. Methanol also works for this project, but it is much more toxic. The absorbent material could be a sponge or piece of felt. An LED flashlight works well for this project, but you can also use the flashlight on your smartphone. Youll also want your phone handy to take pictures of the tracks in the cloud chamber. Start by stuffing a piece of sponge into the bottom of the jar. You want a snug fit so it wont fall when the jar is inverted later on. If necessary, a bit of clay or gum can help stick the sponge to the jar. Avoid tape or glue, since the alcohol may dissolve it.Cut the black paper to cover the inside of the lid. Black paper eliminates reflection and is slightly absorbent. If the paper doesnt stay in place when the lid is sealed, stick it to the lid using clay or gum. Set the paper-lined lid aside for now.Pour isopropyl alcohol into the jar so that the sponge is completely saturated, but there isnt excess liquid. The easiest way to do this is to add alcohol until there is liquid and then pour the excess out.Seal the lid of the jar.In a room that can be made completely dark (e.g., a closet or bathroom without windows), pour dry ice into a cooler. Turn the jar upside down and place it lid-down onto the dry ice. Give the jar about 10 minutes to chill.Set a small dish of warm water on top of the cloud chamber (onto the bottom of the jar). The warm water heats the alcohol to form a cloud of vapor. Finally, turn off all the lights. Shine a flashlight through the side of the cloud chamber. Youll see visible tracks in the cloud as ionizing radiation enters and leaves the jar. Safety Considerations Even though isopropyl alcohol is safer than methanol, its still toxic if you drink it and its highly flammable. Keep it away from a heat source or open flame.Dry ice is cold enough to cause frostbite on contact. It should be handled using gloves. Also, dont store dry ice in a sealed container, as pressure build-up as the solid sublimates into gas can cause an explosion. Things to Try If you have a radioactive source, place it near the cloud chamber and see the effect of the increased radiation. Some everyday materials are radioactive, such as brazil nuts, bananas, clay kitty litter, and vaseline glass.A cloud chamber offers an excellent opportunity to test methods of shielding against radiation. Place different materials between your radioactive source and the cloud chamber. Examples might include a baggie of water, a piece of paper, your hand, and a sheet of metal. Which is best at shielding against radiation?Try applying a magnetic field to the cloud chamber. Positive and negative charged particles will curve in opposite directions in response to the field. Cloud Chamber Versus Bubble Chamber A bubble chamber is another type of radiation detector based on the same principle as the cloud chamber. The difference is that bubble chambers used superheated liquid rather than supersaturated vapor. A bubble chamber is made by filling a cylinder with a liquid just above its boiling point. The most common liquid is liquid hydrogen. Usually, a magnetic field is applied to the chamber so that ionizing radiation travels in a spiral path according to its speed and charge-to-mass ratio. Bubble chambers may be larger than cloud chambers and can be used to track more energetic particles.

Marketing service Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marketing service - Essay Example Attempts need to be made by the companies to bridge the gap. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Introduction 4 Service Encounter 1 5 Service Encounter 2 7 Service Encounter 3 9 Service Encounter 4 11 Service Encounter 5 13 Conclusion 15 References 16 Appendices 18 Introduction Services are the economic activities rendered by one party to another party. The heart of service is considered to be the encounter taking place between the server as well as the customer. It is during this phase when the emotions tend to come into contact with the economics in real time and hence people evaluate the quality of service (Chase & Dasu, 2012). The chief objective of the report is to evaluate the service encounters from one’s perspective as a customer and hence to analyze the recorded situations by making use of the relevant theories and concepts. Service Encounter 1 While having a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) internet connection with Dodo Company in the year 2012 with a contract of two years, I found that the company disconnected my internet within a month of the contract. I tried to fix the problem with the company and despite several attempts made by the company to resolve the issues faced by me, it was not capable of coming out with a feasible solution. Hence, I experienced a negative service encounter with the company. ... It can be mentioned that the disconfirmation of expectations paradigm has been considered as most accepted model that can be successfully applied for examining the issues related to consumer satisfaction/ dissatisfaction (Fisk & Young, 1985). Customer experiences with the product causing negative emotions can lead to substantial damages to the companies in relation to their reputation as well as their association to their customers. When a customer experiences a negative service encounter, the result of such experience is generally anger or frustration which has been the case with me in relation to Dodo Company. Although the company realized the problems that I have been facing with the services and tried to fix it up however, it had not been meeting up to the expectations (McGrawHill, 2012). One of the underlying facts related to services is that satisfaction tends to have an impact on usage continuance intentions. A customer is most likely to continue using a product only if he/she is satisfied with the product or service. It can be observed that since the service rendered by the company was not up to my expectation, I planned to discontinue using the services of the company. Hence, such circumstances reveal the fact that the companies must make all the attempts to satisfy the customers so that they do not stop consuming the services. Discontinuation might lead to several damages to the company in the form of decline in revenues and retardation of the brand image as well. Dodo needs to ensure that they do not breach the contract that they make with the customers and try to fix all the problems within the stipulated time (Miao, 2008). Service Encounter 2 While visiting McDonald’s, I ordered for a coffee and banana bread

The Battle in Seattle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Battle in Seattle - Essay Example The organizations that participated in the protest represented a sea of different interests; they ranged from labor movements, environmental groups as well as human rights organizations. The protest had taken months of planning and organizations working together to plan the protest events (Belmonte 2005, 423). This protest came to be known as the Battle of Seattle since it was the first large demonstration. Before the battle of Seattle, many people were unaware of the disadvantages of free trade. Many free trade agreements had been made in America and the rest of the world before 1999. According to Belmonte, the world trade organization was charged with the responsibility of supervising and liberalizing global trade as established by the 1994 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Moreover, in 1993, the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had been passed, and trade officials assumed that the next move was to expand the free trade area to cover all of North and South Am erica. More so, many cities vied to play host to the FTAA secretariat, and many planners laid out expanded transport systems meant to bring in goods from South America to the U.S and Canada. They faced huge opposition from protestors and delegates who were opposed to free trade. As a result, they failed to reach an agreement and efforts of reviving the free trade efforts died (Belmonte 2005, 311). In addition to that, many of those against free trade based their criticism on economic grounds. As a result, the World Wrade Organization, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund faced many protests. However, contrary to their opposition to globalization, most of the protestors use the Internet to mobilize people of common interest disregarding the fact that the Internet is a form of globalization. During the battle of Seattle, approximately 50,000 people met in Seattle to plan the peaceful protest. The labor movements represented during the protests were steelworkers, longshor emen, public workers, farm workers and building trade workers (Moberg 1999). Some protestors stated that there were efforts to marginalize the developing nations. However, some delegates attending the conference were also opposed to free trade. Some delegates from developing nations felt overshadowed and sidelined by the developed nations and feared that labor rights would be violated by the inception of free trade. Free trade would lead to incurrence of huge costs by developing nations since they could not afford to apply the changes brought about by free trade, considering the poverty rate and dependency on the developed nations (Moberg 1999). The groups that demonstrated in Seattle were of different interests ranging from labor groups, human rights groups, animal rights groups, and many others. Moberg says that, although the protest was against globalizations, some protestors showed their support for rebels in Chiapas, human rights in Burma, and ethical treatment of animals. Howe ver, the issues that were raised by all protestors through their banners and placards were related to the World Trade Organization in a way. For instance, the WTO had rejected U.S. laws regarding them as trade barriers, and as a result,

Fat and Happy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fat and Happy - Essay Example The essay begins by exaggerating common mistaken notions of how and why being fat is a personal, social, and medical liability, then provides evidence and examples for each to show why society developed the perception that the body defines and reflects who a person is. Facts expose and dispel the underlying viewpoint, proving fat people can be beautiful, gracious, elegant, strong, and healthy, just like you and me. The influence of these perspectives can pose a more serious health risk than fatness itself, insults and dieting "must certainly contribute to the shortening of many fat people's lives." (Worley, par. 8) The added stress and effort caused by worrying about your body's set point, means that some would be "happier and healthier not concentrating energies on weight change." (Curtis, ed., A1) Ignorance, inaccurate knowledge, and personal biases being the roots of these mistakes, the essay enhances our knowledge of "fatness" by sharing touching, personal experiences. In additio n to correcting the reader, she gives alternative solutions that cost less and are comfortable and enjoyable: to know and understand the body, to know why some are predisposed to being fat, and how to gain a deeper appreciation and acceptance of our bodies and who we really are. The essay is serious but entertaining, lighthearted but credible, full of evidence familiar to both sides in the issue: fat people who feel miserable and the not-fat who cause the misery. The essay is written to provoke a reaction from any reader with personal issues on the topic. She uses a large variety of argumentative techniques, filling the essay with analogies, assumptions, metaphors, and similes, using authority and common ground, appealing to emotions (pathos) and ethos (the author after all is fat), as well as stimulating the imagination with vivid descriptions of the inhabitants of the "planet" where fat is good and beautiful, as they socialize in swimsuits and show their talents like belly-dancing. Personally, I don't have issues against fat people, although I have friends who do. I also have fat friends whom I have observed to be suffering the miserable consequences of non-acceptance. I have, to be sure, been on the giving end of this lack of acceptance, if only unintentionally. Now that I am seven months pregnant, I feel I am on the receiving end of these biases, and can add my own personal experiences to Worleys list. The alternative to accepting the status quo is to help others see that being fat is as good and beautiful as any other body type, that fat people can be healthy and strong, and that being fat is neither a sign of weakness nor a disease. Understanding that these mistaken notions are the effect of faulty reasoning, I can avoid the same mistakes in the future and help others avoid them. These specious arguments appear, at first, to be logical, but are not. The essay shows that associating "fat" with "bad" is merely a prejudice, so people who think that way are gui lty of non sequitur. A product of careless thinking, the idea of fatness equating negatively is as incorrect as associating "slim" with "bad."

Securitization Pros Essay Example for Free

Securitization Pros Essay The introduction of financial sector reforms in India has led to innovations in financial markets and instruments. One of the most prominent developments in the international finance in recent times that is likely to assume even greater importance in future is ‘securitisation’. Securitisation is the process of pooling and re-packaging of homogenous illiquid loans into marketable securities. Increased pressure on operating efficiency, on market niches, on competitive advantages, and on capital strength, all provide fuel for rapid changes. Securitisation is one of the solutions to these challenges. 2. Reserve Bank of India, as a facilitator, has attempted to explore the intricacies of securitisation as a process of financial engineering and its applicability to the Indian financial system especially in the mortgage and infrastructure sectors. The in-house Working Group constituted by the Bank had the benefit of presentations of and interaction with market intermediaries, regulators, industry experts and international agencies on various aspects associated with securitisation. 3. The report defines asset securitisation and makes a reference to future flow securitisation. Motivation and benefits in the form of capital relief, improvement in return on equity and return on assets, use as a strategic tool, asset liability management, improved liquidity, upgradation in system, Originator discipline, etc. have been highlighted. 4. Various impediments viz. , lack of investors’ base, capital market infrastructure, regulatory framework, legal provisions, accounting and taxation issues besides good quality assets, past data and standardisation of documents have been identified. In the process of exploring opportunities in India, the ideal conditions for success of securitisation in USA and other countries are highlighted. 5. Experience of securitisation in a few developed countries (USA, Japan, Australia, etc. ) and emerging markets like Thailand, Argentina and Morocco has been discussed in detail. The report also identifies securitisation of impaired assets. 6. The disclosure norms and rating will provide touchstones. The Offer Document should give rating rationale which should seek to comment on the quality of the receivables, payment structures, adequacy of the credit enhancement, risks and concerns for investors and the mitigating factors, etc. Rating agencies have already acquired a fair degree of expertise in India through rating of structured obligations and other issues that are quite similar to securitisation. 7. True sale characteristics of securitisation transactions are required to be reflected in the books of accounts, statements to be furnished to the concerned regulators as also to the tax authorities. Since there are no guidelines for accounting treatment of these transactions, the accounting procedures with appropriate guidelines need to be framed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India for the sake of uniformity. A background paper has been prepared in this regard and attached to this report which may serve as a guide in the interregnum. The background paper includes a few illustrations for the guidance of the financial entities. 8. The role of various regulators (RBI, SEBI, etc. ) and other agencies / entities has also been discussed. 9. The recommendations have been categorised into short-term, medium-term and longterm with definite timeframe in each category. The major recommendations on legal issues (short-term) are incorporated in Chapter 9. These include: i) Defining securitisation in the Transfer of Property Act to lend uniformity of approach and restrict the benefits provided by law/regulation for genuine securitisation transactions. ii) Rationalisation of stamp duty to make it uniform at 0. 1 per cent for all securitisation transactions. Attempts may be made to bring the subject under the purview of Indian Stamps Act 1889 from the State Stamp Acts. ii) Reduction of registration charges by amending Section 17(2) of the Registration Act. iv) Inclusion of securitised instruments in Securities Contract Regulation Act. v) SEBI may consider removal of prohibition on investment in mortgage backed securities by Mutual Fund Schemes. vi) Tax neutrality of Special Purpose Vehicle. Recommendations for tax reforms also in clude the spread of upfront income received by Originator over the tenure of the loan securitised, extension of benefits under Section 88 of Income Tax Act for repayment of housing loans after the loans have been securitised etc. 10. Other recommendations are summarised below: i) The most significant impact of securitisation arises from the placement of different risks and rights of an asset with the most efficient owner. The training institutes of the financial institutions should attempt to spread awareness of the benefits and scope of securitisation increasingly among financial community. ii) Spell out the risk weights and NPA norms on securitised paper. Insurance Companies and Provident Funds need to be encouraged to invest in the securitised paper. Besides, suitable regulatory framework may have to be evolved to encourage Foreign Institutional Investors. ii) Listing requirements for various securities to be issued may be stipulated which may include minimum issue size, eligible stock exchanges etc. iv) Include the securitised paper in demat trading. v) While identifying the key characteristics of special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to keep the structure â€Å"remote† from the bankruptcy of the Originator, t he Group recommends flexibility in the structure of SPV. SEBI may formulate detailed guidelines in this regard. vi) Accounting treatment should enable the ‘off balance sheet’ effect for securitised assets. Such treatment for future flow securitisation, credit enhancer etc. has been clarified. A Research Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India is already working on minute details of accounting treatment. vii) Adequate disclosure norms are recommended for an ‘informed† decision by the investor. A model Offer document has been attempted by the Group to give information on description of assets, historical performance, end use of funds, transaction structure, and statement of risk factors. The Group also recommends continuous disclosures. iii) The report has suggested prudential guidelines for banks, developmental financial institutions, non-banking finance companies, etc. including broad creteria for true sale. Model prudential guidelines have been prepared which incorporate issues such as off balance sheet treatment, credit enhancement, servicing, etc. ix) Medium term measures include increased flow of information thorough credit bureaus, standardisation of documents, improvement in the quality of assets, upgradation of computer skills and exploration of the possibilities of securitising non-performing assets.

Solutions to Gang Violence in Society Essay -- Gang Violence Crimes Vi

Gang violence is a major problem in our society today. If nothing is done soon, gang violence could take place in our neighborhoods. MW Klein, a gang researcher, says that gangs are an aggregation of youths who perceive themselves as distinct, and that are viewed as distinct by the community. Klein also states that the gangs call forth a consistently negative image of themselves through their actions (Klein). To those involved in gangs however, gang membership provided a youth means of attempting to consolidate their gender identities (Douglas). Most of the early American street gangs have historically been ethnically based. Early gangs were mainly Irish, Polish, or Italian (Klein). Communities all over deal with gang violence. Criminologist and crime writer John E. Douglas, explained how the propagation of street gangs in America and the violence associated with them is disturbing. He mentioned that street gangs have a presence in 94 percent of all the U.S. cities with populations greater than 100,000 (Klein). A number of studies have been conducted dealing with gang violence throughout the world. One particular study in Chicago showed that five percent of elementary school children were affiliated with street gang, as well as 35 percent of high school dropouts (Klein). Elizabeth Van Ella of the Chicago Crime Commission, explained that in Chicago alone, 65,000 documented gang members account for 48 percent of the crime. A majority of the members thrive in business as a way to cover up their schemes (Hutson). They flourish in retail sales, computer sales, hospitals, office buildings, schools, transportation, and security firms. Practically, anywhere that pr ovides a cover for laundering money, and easy mobility (Hutson). Klein explains that another place that has been greatly affected is Los Angeles. Los Angeles has over 950 different gangs with more than 100,000 members. They are not just limited to inner-city ghettos, but are active in over 800 cities nation wide. Overall, nearly 100 cities with population’s less then 10,000 report active street gangs (Klein). Many stereotypes of gangs have been fabricated. The problem is that a majority of gang members do not fit these stereotypes, which, in turn, makes it hard for the to be caught (Klein). Traditionally they organize their group around a specific neighborhood, school or housing projec... ...versity Press. Fall 1995. General Reference Center Gold. 21 Jan 2007 Loeber R., and D.P. Farrington. â€Å"Serious and violent juvenile offenders: Risk factors and successful interventions.† Thousand Oaks. 1998. First Search. Feb 2007 Otero, Juan. â€Å"Curbing street gang violence,† National League of Cities. 21 Dec 1998. General Reference Center Gold. Jan 2007 Pfeiffer, Christian. â€Å"A toilet apart.† New Statesman. 2 Aug 1999. General Reference Center Gold. Mar 2007 Singer, Merrill. â€Å"Drugs, violence and moral panic in urban America,† American Anthropologist. Mar 1998. First Search. Feb 2007 Synder, Scott. â€Å"Movie portrayals of juvenile delinquency: part II—Sociology and psychology,† Adolescence. Summer 1995. First Search. Feb 2007 Walker, Hill M. et al., â€Å" The path to school failure, delinquency, and violence: Casual factors and some potential solutions,† Intervention in School and Clinic. Nov 1999. First Search. Feb 2007 Witt, Peter A. and Joni E. Baker. â€Å"Making A R.E.A.L. Difference,† Parks and Recreation. Mar 1999. General Reference Center Gold. Jan 2007 Wittmeier, Carmen. â€Å"Still no confession, but†¦,† Alberta Report. Aug 1999. General Reference Center Gold. Feb 2007

JP Morgan Chase Essay

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to discuss the effects of how JP Morgan Chase, the biggest U.S. bank, announced trading losses from the decision make by its Chief Investment Office in the amount of $5.8 billion. It will also discuss actions taken by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the misconduct on the part of JP Morgan Chase. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Takes Action I would like to begin by briefly explaining the purpose and mission of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC was designed to protect investors, maintain, fair, orderly, and efficient markets and to facilitate capital formation. The SEC requires public companies to disclose significant and meaningful financial information to the public in order to guarantee security within the U.S. Federal prosecutors and the securities regulators filed charges against the Chief Investment Office (CIO) consisting of two JP Morgan Chase traders for the massive trade losses totaling $5.8 billion. The employees were charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, falsifying financial records and making false filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Securities and Exchange Commission simultaneously filed a corresponding civil complaint in which the agency signaled it would hold the bank accountable for disclosing inaccurate information to investors about the trading. Elements of Valid Contract – Good Faith and Fair Dealing in Banking Relationships Chapter 7 of The Legal Environment describes the element of what is contained in a valid contract. â€Å"Every contract contains and implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing in its performance that imposes on each party a duty not to do anything that will deprive the other party of the benefits of the agreement. (The Legal Environment, (2013), p.190). I feel it is important for both consumers and bank to ensure they are acting in accordance with good faith and fair dealing. With complete understanding, the banks are ensuring they are doing everything necessary to conduct business with its consumers. As long as banks act in accordance with the terms of a contract or agreement, they should have contented with the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Intentional and Negligent Tort Actions An intentional tort transpires when an individual intentionally causes damage or injury to another person their property. Some examples are abuse, kidnapping or assault. A negligent tort transpires when an individual causes damage or injure to another without the intent to do so. An example of this would be a car accident or if someone accidentally slips, falls and becomes injured. Interference with Contractual Relations, Participating in Breach of Fiduciary Duty – The tort of interference with contractual relations protects the rights of a legally binding contract and requires the intent to interfere if such agreement has been breached. In the case of JP Morgan Chase I would be able to succeed based on the fact that the act of intentional tort action was carried out. The employees of JP Morgan Chase intentionally falsified financial records and committed the act of fraud. Protection of Online Banking In today’s world of online banking, the technology is simply an amazing necessity. Wells Fargo, for instance has â€Å"implemented firewalls, anti-malware defenses, password encryptions, application security testing and activity monitoring†. This provides a great deal of comfort to the consumer in ensuring their banking information and online account is protected. As an added measure, I feel banks should take that extra measure in continuing to be innovative by implementing new and diverse solutions to protect online banking. References: McKoy, Kevin, (2013) USA Today Bernstein, Harry, (2009). Negligence and Intentional Tort Law Douglas, Danielle, (2012). Banks Layer up on Security to Protect Customers. The Washington Post