4.2.3

Detection of Radiation

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Detecting Radioactivity

There are three primary ways of detecting radioactivity.

Geiger counter (Geiger-Muller tube)

Geiger counter (Geiger-Muller tube)

  • Ionising radiation enters a tube full of low-pressure gases.
  • It ionises the atoms in the gas, knocking electrons out of the atoms.
  • The gas can now conduct electricity and completes an electric circuit. Current flows between electrodes.
  • The current produces a clicking noise.
  • The count-rate is the number of decays recorded each second.
Photographic film

Photographic film

  • Ionising radiation has the same effect on photographic film as light.
  • A bright spot appears wherever the ionising radiation hits the film.
Cloud chamber

Cloud chamber

  • A cloud chamber is a container full of air containing alcohol vapour.
  • Ionising radiation enters the air and leaves a trail of ionised air molecules.
  • The alcohol vapour condenses on the ionised air molecules, showing the trail of radiation.
Jump to other topics
1

Energy

2

Electricity

3

Particle Model of Matter

4

Atoms & Radiation

5

Forces

5.1

Basics of Motion

5.2

Forces

5.3

Effects of Forces

5.4

Pressure

6

Waves

6.1

Wave Basics

6.2

Waves at a Boundary

6.3

Sound Waves

6.4

Electromagnetic Waves

6.5

Lenses

6.6

Heat & Radiation

7

Magnetism

8

Astrophysics

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