The ionising effect of radiation can be seen using an ionisation chamber and pico-ammeter. Ions created by the ionising radiation are attracted to the oppositely charged electrode and produce a current proportional to the number of ions discharged at the electrode.A cloud chamber contains air supersaturated with e.g. alcohol vapour and kept at a very low temperature. When air is ionised by ionising radiation the vapour condenses into droplets and can be seen as a visible tracks. Alpha particles from the same source produce straight tracks of the same length. Beta particles form wispy tracks which are fainter than the tracks from alpha particles.
Radioactivity Observations
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Specification: OCR Physics A (H556), A-level, 6.4.3 Radioactivity. Topic: Radioactivity.
More in Radioactivity
- Rutherford's α-Particle Scattering Experiment.
- Rutherford's Interpretation
- Radioactivity
- Geiger Tube
- The nature of α, β and γ Radiation.
- Gamma radiation
- Radioactive Change
- The Dangers of Radioactivity
All 25 lessons in Radioactivity · All OCR A-level Physics topics