Question
A Geiger-Muller (GM) tube can be used to detect ionising radiation How many alpha particles entering the GM tube are needed to make the counter advance by one? Give your answer in numbers not words.
Answer
4.6
(224 Votes)
Ashton
Master · Tutor for 5 years
Answer
1
Explanation
The Geiger-Muller (GM) tube is an instrument used for detecting and measuring ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation includes any form of radiation that has the ability to remove tightly bound electrons from the orbit of an atom, causing the atom to become charged (or ionized). In particular, alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons (the same as a helium-4 nucleus) and carry a double positive charge. When an alpha particle enters the GM tube, it ionizes the gas within. Each ion event, caused by penetration of an alpha particle, results in a detectable electric pulse, thus advancing the counter on the device by one. Therefore, one alpha particle entering the GM tube is needed to make the counter advance by one.