Geiger Tube
A Geiger tube is a sealed metal tube that contains argon gas at low pressure.
Alpha and beta particles and gamma radiation enter the tube through a thin mica window. The tube wall is connected to the negative potential and there is a metal rod in the tube which is connected to the positive terminal.

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Key terms in this lesson
- Background radiation
- Ionising radiation that is present in the environment at all times, from sources such as rocks, cosmic rays and medical procedures.
More in Radioactivity
- Rutherford's α-Particle Scattering Experiment.
- Rutherford's Interpretation
- Radioactivity
- Radioactivity Observations
- The nature of α, β and γ Radiation.
- Gamma radiation
- Radioactive Change
- The Dangers of Radioactivity
All 25 lessons in Radioactivity · All AQA A-level Physics topics