Detecting Radiation

[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Production of Materials‎ > ‎5. Nuclear Methods‎ > ‎

Identify instruments and processes that can be used to detect radiation[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]

  • The three different types of radiation all have the ability to ionise gases:
    • Alpha radiation is strongly ionising.
    • Beta radiation is less ionising.
    • Gamma radiation is only weakly ionising.
  • Ionising ability and other properties can be used to detect radiation.
  • There are a variety of instruments that can be used for radiation detection:
Instrument Description
Photographic film Darkens when exposed to radiation
Cloud chamber
  • Contains a supersaturated vapour of water or alcohol
  • Radiation ionises some of the air, and the vapour condenses around the ions, tracing a path
Geiger-Müller Counter
  • Consists of a conductive tube filled with argon gas, with a high voltage being connected to the outer casing and an electrode
  • Radiation ionises argon atoms and the high voltage causes the resulting electrons to accelerate towards the electrode, ionising more argon atoms in their path
  • The resulting cascade of electrons constitutes and electrical pulse, which is detected by a counter
Scintillation counter
  • When certain substances are irradiated with alpha, beta or gamma rays (different substances for each type of ray), they emit a flash of light
  • This flash can be collected and amplified in a photomultiplier
  • The electric signal thus generated can operate an electric counter

Examples of radiation detection instruments

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