The Disappearing Spoon Chp. 17

The Disappearing Spoon Chapter 17

Summary:

This chapter first starts out with a story about Donald Glaser, who came to the idea of using bubbles for some current experiments going on by scientists studying exotic fragments of neutrons, electrons and protons. Watching his beer glass and bubbles, Glaser was able to take part in the creation of the “bubble chamber”.

 The chapter then moves onto smaller stories of the Roman’s love of calcium bubbles. Kean then introduces Rutherford as basically that of a troll but based on his radioactive experiments he became famous. He and another scientist, Soddy, were able to prove that elements could mutate into other elements. He then used this knowledge and discovered helium particles being produced from this decay as bubbles.try This theory then went on to be used as a dating device to help find the age of the earth by measuring the amount of helium trapped in rocks. The next story is then of a scientist by the name of Putterman. He had the idea of sonoluminescent work and soon began a small experiment that led to his discovery. Most of the discoveries in the later part of the chapter were based on the research of foam.

Reflection:

This chapter mostly talked about bubbles and I thought it was pretty funny. I liked that it was about bubbles because it was kind of easier to understand than other chapters. I thought it was interesting, however, on how they used lithium bubbles in rocks to determine the age of the earth. Basically I thought this chapter was very funny and cool on how they came up with ideas.

Guided Questions:

1. What earned Donald Glaser the Nobel Prize at just 33?

His revamped version of the bubble chamber.

2. What did Rutherford discover about the structure of the atom?

He went on with pure radioactivity. They release new elements.

3. Scientists now estimate the universe to be at least 14 billion years old. Research one way they came to that conclusion besides helium trapped in rocks. Cite your reference in your explanation.

One way they could determine it would be within decay of other things like uranium and other elements.

4. Why is the firing of a rifle into water considered the antithesis to work done by Rutherford?

It is considered to be the antithesis to work done by Rutherford because it did the opposite.