Figure 10 shows a Geiger-Müller (GM) tube used for measuring radioactivity - Edexcel - GCSE Physics: Combined Science - Question 6 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 6
Figure 10 shows a Geiger-Müller (GM) tube used for measuring radioactivity.
(a) Describe how a teacher should use a Geiger-Müller (GM) tube to compare the count-rat... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Figure 10 shows a Geiger-Müller (GM) tube used for measuring radioactivity - Edexcel - GCSE Physics: Combined Science - Question 6 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
1. Put rock(s) in front of tube
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Answer
The teacher should place the radioactive rock(s) in front of or nearby the GM tube.
Step 2
2. Measure count rate separately for the two different rocks
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Answer
The teacher should record the count rate for each rock separately to ensure accurate comparisons.
Step 3
3. Measure each count for the same time period
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Answer
The teacher needs to ensure that the count for each rock is measured over the same designated time interval to maintain consistency.
Step 4
4. Keep source-detector distance the same for both rocks
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The teacher must ensure that the distance between the GM tube and the radioactive rocks remains constant during measurement for both rocks.
Step 5
5. Take into account/measure background count
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It's important for the teacher to measure the background radiation level and subtract this from the counts recorded to ensure accurate results.
Step 6
6. Repeat readings and take average(s)
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Finally, the teacher should repeat the measurements to confirm accuracy and calculate the average count rate from the readings obtained.
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