How Do You Build A Geiger Counter?
Alpha and Beta radiations are surprisingly abundant in nature. The third variety of radiation, Gamma, is more commonly associated with artificially produced radioactivity. The one device suitable for detecting radiation, in all its forms, is the Geiger counter. Once an expensive instrument, a Geiger counter can actually be built by a dedicated hobbyist. Assembling your own Geiger counter can be a fascinating exercise in discovery. Everything from antique watches to bricks let off small amounts of radiation that can be detected with the fully-capable Geiger counter outlined below. Purchase a Geiger-Muller tube. This is the Geiger counter’s most important component and the only one that cannot be built from scratch. This sealed cylinder is filled with neon, argon and halogen. A mica window caps one end of the tube, allowing for the entrance of radioactive particles. Current is applied to the gas mixture. The electrical state of the gas mixture is subtly altered whenever outside particles
