Question

Wilson's cloud chamber showed us that clouds are seeded or caused by _________ Later, this cloud chamber was used to witness the ____________ of the atom and the development of ________.

(A) condensation nuclei, ionization, nuclear physics
(B) charged particles, water vapor, sunlight
(C) dust particles, pollen grains, sea salt
(D) condensation nuclei, nuclear fission, nuclear fusion
(E) charged particles, nuclear fission, nuclear structure

Answer 1

The cloud chamber initially demonstrated the role of condensation nuclei in cloud formation and later was instrumental in observing nuclear fission and advancing the field of nuclear physics, as shown by experiments like Rutherford's gold foil experiment.

Step-by-step explanation:

Wilson's cloud chamber showed us that clouds are seeded or caused by condensation nuclei. Later, this chamber was used to witness the nuclear fission of the atom and the development of nuclear physics. The correct answer to fill in the blanks is (A) condensation nuclei, ionization, nuclear physics.

Ernest Rutherford used a version of the cloud chamber to conduct experiments which involved the scattering of alpha particles beamed at a thin gold foil. This crucial experiment and subsequent observations led to the discovery of the nucleus and spearheaded the development of nuclear physics. A cloud chamber can also detect the paths of charged particles, such as those produced by nuclear fission, through the ionization of gas molecules, which causes condensation and the formation of visible trails.