Nuclear Counting

PHY 201 & 231

In this experiment, the students will use a Geiger counter to make a series of measurements of the same count from a long-lived radioactive source. From their measurements, the students will calculate the average count, the standard error, and standard deviation.

Equipment

Notes

DS61-195 (an item in JE-113A) contains the radioactive sources. Leave the container with the sources on the professors lab bench. The Geiger counters are in the Rocks Room in the basement of Jennings. You must get a key from Mellissa to get them. Near the Geiger counters is a box with the counting shelves and pieces of cardboard for the Geiger counters. That must be brought up as well and put on the professors lab bench. The bottom picture shows the box with the counting shelves from the Rocks Room and the CO-60 Source / DS61-195.

This lab requires laptops. The computer cart containing the laptops can be wheeled by faculty into the lab room.