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
1. Put rock(s) in front of/near tube
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Answer
The teacher should place each radioactive rock in front of or near the Geiger-Müller tube to ensure that the radiation emitted from the rocks can be effectively detected.
Step 2
2. Measure (count rate) separately for the two different rocks
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Answer
The count rate should be measured separately for each of the two rocks to gather individual data on their radiation emissions.
Step 3
3. Measure each count for the same time period
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Answer
The teacher must maintain a consistent time period for measuring the radiation counts, ensuring that each rock is counted for the same duration to allow for a fair comparison.
Step 4
4. Keep source-detector distance the same for both rocks
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To maintain consistent results, the distance between the Geiger-Müller tube and each rock must be kept the same during the counting process.
Step 5
5. Take (into account)/measure background count
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The teacher should measure the background radiation count before the experiment to account for any ambient radiation that may interfere with the results.
Step 6
6. Repeat readings and take average(s)
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The teacher should repeat the counting process multiple times for each rock and calculate the average count to improve accuracy and reliability of the measurements.
