Advanced Physics Laboratories

This experiment uses weak radioactive sources to investigate the nature of the three different kinds of radiation (alpha,beta, and gamma) discovered by Rutherford in ~1903. Using a Geiger tube and an electron scaler, you will explore the statistics of random decay and investigate the absorption, or range of penetration, of the different types of radiation. The experiment is also a useful introduction to the physics of ionization detectors, the use of an oscilloscope, and counting statistics.