A Geiger-Muller Tube is a vital component in detecting and measuring ionising radiation, commonly used in GCSE Physics experiments. This device consists of a hollow, cylindrical tube filled with a low-pressure inert gas, such as argon, and a central wire electrode.
When ionising radiation, like alpha, beta, or gamma particles, enters the tube, it ionises the gas, creating a temporary electrical charge. This charge is detected as a pulse of current, which is then counted and displayed by a connected Geiger counter.
This allows students to observe and measure radiation levels and understand the principles of radioactive decay and its detection.
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