http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/faqs/radiationdetection.html
Human senses cannot detect radiation. People have to use specialized instruments….
Geiger Counter using a Geiger-Mueller Probe
-uses high voltage to create a n electrical pulse that interacts with the gas contained in the instrument. The pulses are converted to a reading on the meter of the instrument.
MicroR Meter &Sodium Iodide Detector
-a crystal of sodium iodide creates a pulse of light when radiation interacts with it. The pulse is converted to an electrical signal which translates to a reading on the meter of the instrument. The pulse of light is proportionate to the amount of light and energy deposited in the crystal.
Portable Multichannel Anallyzer
An affordable and common way to measure. This is the same machine described above, used with a multichannel analyzer. Automatically displays the radioactive materials present.
Ionization Chamber
X ray or gamma radiation creates a current in this chamber of air, which is then displayed on a meter.
Neutron REM Meter
Radon Detector
Radioactive decay is when an unstable atom disintegrates and is accompanied by radiation emission. Once the atom becomes stable again, it ceases to emit radiation. Because of this, radioactive sources become weaker with time. Eventually this allows atoms to become non-radioactive.
The half life of radiation is when the intensity of the source progresses from its 100% fullest to 50% intensity.
Radiation and Age
Radiocarbon dating: the earth’s upper atmosphere is constantly exposed to cosmic radiation, so scientists can use the unstable isotope of carbon (known as carbon 14) and this becomes a part of the molecular structure of everything on earth, because it attaches itself to complex organisms fixed in the biosphere. Scientists can determine how much of this element is present in an organism (includes fossils and such) so they can determine how old something is by determining its half life.
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