GCSE SCIENCE PHYSICS HIGH SCHOOL - Detecting Radioactivity - Photographic Film - Film Badge - Geiger-Müller Tube

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Detecting Radioactivity - Film Badge.

Radioactivity causes ionisation.
The ions can be detected using photographic film or a Geiger-Müller tube.

People who work with radioactivity (or X-rays) wear a film badge.
Radioactivity will make photographic film darken
in the same way that light and X-rays do.
The greater the amount of radioactivity, the darker the film becomes.

A film badge is a plastic container with a piece of film inside.
Spaces in front of the film
contain thin "windows" of paper, aluminium and lead.
People who do physics use the word "window" for any substance
which allows a wave or particle to pass through it.
The glass windows in your house allow light to pass through them.
An aluminium window would allow g-rays to pass through.

When the film is developed it gives an indication of exposure
to the type and amount of radioactivity the film badge has received.
You can work out what type of radiation will reach the film
behind the different materials by looking at penetrating ability.

The film badge is a cheap and convenient method
of monitoring exposure to radioactivity.
A Geiger-Müller tube is a more precise method of measuring radioactivity.

Headings Radioactivity Search Questions

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