Figure 17 shows a Geiger-Müller (GM) tube used for measuring radioactivity - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 9 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 9
Figure 17 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 17 shows a Geiger-Müller (GM) tube used for measuring radioactivity - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 9 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
Put rock(s) in front of the tube
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Answer
The teacher should place the radioactive rocks in front of or near the Geiger-Müller (GM) tube to measure the radiation emitted from the rocks.
Step 2
Measure count rate separately
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Answer
The count rate should be measured separately for each of the two different rocks being tested. This allows for a direct comparison of their individual radiation levels.
Step 3
Measure each count for the same time period
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Answer
It is important to measure the radiation counts for each rock over the same time period to ensure that the data collected is comparable.
Step 4
Take into account background count
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Answer
The teacher should take into account or measure the background radiation count during the experiment to ensure accurate readings from the rocks.
Step 5
Repeat readings and take averages
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Answer
To improve accuracy, the teacher should repeat the measurement readings several times and calculate the average count rate for each rock.
