Measuring the Radioactivity of a Smoke Detector
BlackBoard Notes

• Always respect radiation sources - no eating or drinking during lab!
• Carefully remove the cap from the end of the Geiger-Müller (GM) counter for measurements. Replace when finished!
• Wash your hands when finished!

 

• Which isotope of Americium (Am) is in the smoke detector?
  • Look on the Chart of the Nuclides (chart year doesn't matter!)
  • Look for isotope (and its decay product) that are both stable (long t_½)

    

    (isotope - Alpha emitter = Decay product: Is this stable?)

• Testing activity with assorted materials between smoke detector & GM counter: paper, air, zinc, steel, tin, lead.
• Calculate mass of Am in smoke detector:

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Revised: 16 May 2017

Canton, NY 13617