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Exp3 213
Exp3 213
Exp3 213
Faculty of Science
Prepared by
ميره كمال وصفي بظ:)اسم الطالب (بالعربي
Group Number: 2
Title of the Experiment: Geiger Muller Tube and β-Ray
Absorption
Nablus – Palestine
2nd semester- 2023 / 2024
Geiger Muller Tube and β-Ray Absorption
Objectives:
1. Creating a graph illustrating the characteristics of a Geiger Muller tube (GMT) and identifying its
threshold potential and operating voltage.
2.Validating the applicability of the inverse square law to the spread of β-particles.
3.Measuring the distance β-particles travel through an Aluminum plate to determine their stopping
range.
Apparatus:
1.Geiger Muller tube.
2. Geiger counter.
5.Stop watch.
Theory:
Geiger-Muller Tube (GMT):
The Geiger-Muller tube is a gas-filled detector for ionizing radiation. Key components include
an anode, cathode, and a argon medium. When radiation ionizes the gas, a voltage threshold
triggers an avalanche effect, generating a detectable electrical pulse.
Beta particles (β) are high-energy electrons emitted during radioactive decay. Absorption
depends on the material's density and thickness. The inverse square law governs radiation
intensity, while stopping power measures energy loss. Materials like Aluminum influence
absorption, with factors such as atomic number, density, and thickness impacting effectiveness.
Experimental setups use Geiger-Muller tubes to study beta particle characteristics and
absorption.
Procedure:
Notes: during the experiment the number of counts was taken 30sec in all the
measurements, and multiplied by 2, in order to have counts/minute.
1- The experimental setup was configured. The Sr90 radioactive source with an activity of 5µCi was
positioned 10cm away from the mica window of the GMT.
2- The counter's power was activated, and the voltage was adjusted to 300V
3- Counts (N) were recorded over a 30-second interval. The counter was reset after each
measurement.
4- Steps 2 and 3 were repeated for voltages ranging from 300 to 500V, it was increased by 12.5V until
it reached 400V, and then the increase became 25V (But when graphing, we took the values with an
increase of 25 volts in order to facilitate reading and taking a stable measurement).
5- A plot of N counts/min versus voltage was created, and the operating voltage (Vop) was
determined.
1- To enhance background measurement accuracy, counts were taken without the source for 10
minutes, and the result was divided by 10 to derive counts/min (Nback). As the voltage remained
fixed at Vop, this background value remained constant throughout the subsequent phases of the
experiment.
3- The distance between the source and the GMT window was adjusted to 10cm.
4- Counts were recorded every 30 seconds and multiplied by 2 to obtain counts/min (N).
5- Step 5 was repeated for distances ranging from 15 to 50cm in 5cm increments.
6- Ncort (N - Nback) was calculated, and all data were documented in a suitable table.
7- A plot of Ncor against the distance (r) between the GMT window and the source was generated.
9- The validity of the inverse-square law in the propagation of radiation was demonstrated through
analysis of the two plots.
2- The holder of the radioactive source was positioned at a distance of 15cm from the GMT.
3- At this location, counts were taken every 30 seconds without any absorber.
4- Aluminum foils and plates were arranged in ascending order of their thickness, starting with the
smaller ones.
5- The given stage, designed to hold the absorbers, was placed between the source and the GMT.
6- The first absorber with a thickness of 65mg/cm² was interposed, and the count rate was recorded
every 30 seconds.
7- The first absorber was replaced with a second one having a thickness of 84mg/cm², and the count
rate was again recorded.
9- Step 7 was repeated with a combined thickness of 65 + 84mg/cm², focusing on obtaining multiple
readings with smaller thicknesses where the count rate rapidly decreases.
10- Absorber thickness was incrementally increased until all Aluminum absorbers were positioned
between the GMT and the source, at which point the count rate no longer decreased.
11- Background counts (No) measured in the previous part were subtracted from all measurements in
this part.
13- A plot of the corrected count rate as a function of absorber thickness was created. The result was
fitted with an exponential curve to determine the attenuation or absorption coefficient of Aluminum to
B-rays. The B-particle range, corresponding to 1/e of the maximum count rate at x=0, was identified.
14- Another plot of the same data was generated on semi-log paper, with the count rate on the
logarithmic y-axis. The decreasing points of the absorption curve were fitted with a line, and the last
points of the curve with almost constant value were fitted with another line. The point of intersection
provided the range of B-rays in Aluminum.
Data analysis:
Part(1)
Table(1): counts per minute as a function of the potential applied to GMT
2000
1500
Operating voltage = (VBr-
1000
500
VTh)/2 =75
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
350+75 =425 V
V(volt)
Ncorr=N-12.
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
r(cm)
Ncorr(count/min)
2500
Ncorr(count/min)
2000
1500
1000
500
0
0 0.002 0.004 0.006 0.008 0.01 0.012
1/r^2 (cm^-2)
As figures shows, it is Applicable to inverse square law, in another words, the relation between the
distance (between radioactive source and GMT) and the value of counts is inverse relationship
because as we found that as the separation increase number of counts decrease.
Part (3)
Nback=12
1400
1200
y = 298.81e-0.004x
1000
N(count/min)
800
600
400
200
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
thickness(cm)
I want to fit the decreasing points of the absorption curve with a line, and do the same thing with the
almost constant value with another line as shown on the second two curves:
Note: the bold line in the pre plot has different shape because y - axis is semi -
log axis. From the equation of the line, slope = -0.6073= -α
α=0.6073 (m^-1)
Slope=0.004
β=395.1
e=326.34 count/1*887.1
Error:
I deleted from part 2 (r=15 cm, Ncount=1352).
Questions:
Radioactive material is any material containing unstable atoms that emit ionizing radiation as it decays.
The units of measurement for radioactivity are the becquerel (Bq, international unit) and the curie ( Ci, U.S.
unit).
Ead metal is the preferred material for radiation shielding. The reason is that lead is highly effective in providing
protection from sources of radiation. Because of this, it is the standard used in the design of radiation protection
systems. Lead metal is dense.
To decide the potential that we should use in second and third part, and working with operating voltage is very
ideal for GMT counter because small fluctuations in voltage will not significantly alter measurement and will
provide more accurate data, and if the voltage is too low , there is not enough potential to create any Geiger
discharges , and if it too high the Geiger count will enter a state of continuous discharge .
5. What is the life time of sr90? What are the radiations emitted by it?
It has a half- life of 29 years and emits beta particles of relatively low energy as it decay.
6. What is the sr90 decay scheme until it reaches a stable isotope? How it decay?
Sr90 undergoes β − decay with a half-life of 28.79 years and a decay energy of 0.546 MeV distributed to an
electron, an antineutrino, and the yttrium isotope 90Y, which in turn undergoes β − decay with a half-life of 64
hours and a decay energy of 2.28 MeV distributed to an electron, an antineutrino, and 90Zr (zirconium), which
is stable.
7. Beta-particles are electrons emitted from the nucleus of the radioactive nuclei. Are there electrons in
the nuclei? How are they produced from nuclei?
Beta minus particle (β-) emission occurs when the ratio of neutrons to protons in the nucleus is too high. An
excess neutron transforms into a proton and an electron. The proton stays in the nucleus and the electron is
ejected energetically. This process decreases the number of neutrons by one and increases the number of protons
by one. Since the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom determines the element, the conversion of a
neutron to a proton actually changes the radionuclide to a different element.
8. What is the dead time (Resolving Time) of the Geiger Muller tube? Does it affect the results of your
experiment? In what manner?
After a count has been recorded, it takes the GMT a certain amount of time to reset itself to be ready for the
next count, if the counting rate is high, then the effect of dead time is very important. 9. What is the energy of
Beta-particles and Gamma-rays produced during the decay of. Beta particles with energy of 0.5 MeV Gamma-
rays have energies greater than 100 keV.