Req 4 — Pick Two Classic Experiments
4.
Classic Experiments. Do TWO of the following:
You must choose exactly 2 options from this requirement.
Your Options
- Req 4a — Build an Electroscope: Build a simple detector that shows how electric charge behaves and how radiation can discharge it.
- Req 4b — See Tracks in a Cloud Chamber: Watch ionizing radiation leave visible trails in a supersaturated vapor.
- Req 4c — Model Half-Life: Use a hands-on experiment to show how radioactive decay follows a pattern even when individual atoms decay randomly.
How to Choose
Choosing your two experiments
Think about materials, time, and what you want to understand
- Best low-cost build: 4a usually uses simple household materials and teaches electrostatics clearly.
- Best wow-factor demonstration: 4b lets you see radiation tracks, but it takes more setup and careful adult help.
- Best for graphing and math-minded Scouts: 4c turns decay into data you can count and discuss.
- What you will gain: 4a builds understanding of charge and detection, 4b helps you visualize invisible particles, and 4c helps you explain probability, decay, and half-life.
Start with the electroscope if you want the simplest classic detector first.