hackertube.io

DIY mass spectrometer measures potassium in dietary salt substitute

Applied Science · demo · Watch on YouTube

ChemistryEveryday physics & science demosEmbedded systems & DIY electronics

What it is

Ben Krasnow of Applied Science builds and operates a simple mass spectrometer, using it to measure potassium isotopes in a salt substitute. He explains the design choices and the theory behind it.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Recommended as an expert-made DIY build that explains why the apparatus is designed as it is, though one commenter notes a missing baseline run.

  • 3 people recommended it
  • 3 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2020, last 2023

What HN commenters said

  1. “he tries to explain why it's built the way it is and give you a good basis of the theory of operation.”

    DIY build that explains design and theory of operation.

    MertsA, 2020-02 · Recommendation · in “The laser and microphone atop Mars 2020, NASA's next rover”

  2. “You might like”

    Suggested as related DIY spectrometer project.

    anfractuosity, 2022-01 · Recommendation · in “DIY Raspberry Pi Spectrometer Guide”

  3. “this guy decided to try and build a mass spectrometer from scratch”

    Expert-made channel example building a mass spectrometer from scratch.

    hsjqllzlfkf, 2023-06 · Recommendation · in “YouTube is testing a more aggressive approach against ad blockers”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: mass spectrometer, applied science, ion beam, isotopes, diy science

Also recommended by the same people