In conducting this experiment, the hope was to identify if there was a relationship between distance from a radioactive source and its radioactivity. Within this radiation lab experiment, we put the following hypothesis to the test: If the distance from the source, in centimeters, is increased then the Ionizing Radiation does is expected to decrease because the radiation decreases as it gets farther away from the radiation emitter, due to the loss of energy from the radioactive particles as they move through the air. The hypothesis stated above is accepted because of the overall decrease of radiation as the distance from the emitter is increased. Notice how in image 1.B, all three trials “y” values or counts per minute decrease as the “x”
…show more content…
The steps 5 – 7 (see 1.C above) give a thorough and easily repeatable set of directions on how to take measurements from a Geiger counter. The lab also never asked for any highly complicated procedures making this test easily reproducible with similar results. As for the validity of our experiment, it wasn’t quite as exact. Having never instructed the user to increase the multiplier on the Geiger counter if the CPM’s maxed out, any trials that read 5000 CPM’s could easily have been more exactly measured in a higher multiplier range. This means the trials from 0 and 2 centimeters are off on their measurement by an unknown amount decreasing the validity of the …show more content…
Because the distances wouldn’t have been consistent due to the shaking and slight movement caused by a human holding the Geiger counter. This might cause a slightly too high or low reading from the hand swaying to close or far from the designated mark. To solve an issue like this, mounting the Geiger counter on a secure object at 2 cm away or whatever the distance calls for would rid the experiment of the inconsistencies found in the measurement taking. Another limitation of this trial was an alignment problem between our Geiger counter and the radioactive emitter. Because of how it was positioned, the emitter was above the Geiger counter, possibly creating a blockage of radioactive particles from hitting the Geiger counters’ wand and not allowing us to get accurate measurements. To solve this problem, placing the wand and emitter on equally elevated surfaces such that they are at the same height, such as the table or ground, would be the simplest solution. The final limitation that could have affected our experiment was the open environment we did our testing in. Even though a background test was conducted, there were multiple variables about the room constantly changing (students blocking and unblocking emitters, people introducing new emitters during our testing, etc.) that could have definitely influenced our data. A solution to this is a bit difficult in the fact
The steps 5 – 7 (see 1.C above) give a thorough and easily repeatable set of directions on how to take measurements from a Geiger counter. The lab also never asked for any highly complicated procedures making this test easily reproducible with similar results. As for the validity of our experiment, it wasn’t quite as exact. Having never instructed the user to increase the multiplier on the Geiger counter if the CPM’s maxed out, any trials that read 5000 CPM’s could easily have been more exactly measured in a higher multiplier range. This means the trials from 0 and 2 centimeters are off on their measurement by an unknown amount decreasing the validity of the …show more content…
Because the distances wouldn’t have been consistent due to the shaking and slight movement caused by a human holding the Geiger counter. This might cause a slightly too high or low reading from the hand swaying to close or far from the designated mark. To solve an issue like this, mounting the Geiger counter on a secure object at 2 cm away or whatever the distance calls for would rid the experiment of the inconsistencies found in the measurement taking. Another limitation of this trial was an alignment problem between our Geiger counter and the radioactive emitter. Because of how it was positioned, the emitter was above the Geiger counter, possibly creating a blockage of radioactive particles from hitting the Geiger counters’ wand and not allowing us to get accurate measurements. To solve this problem, placing the wand and emitter on equally elevated surfaces such that they are at the same height, such as the table or ground, would be the simplest solution. The final limitation that could have affected our experiment was the open environment we did our testing in. Even though a background test was conducted, there were multiple variables about the room constantly changing (students blocking and unblocking emitters, people introducing new emitters during our testing, etc.) that could have definitely influenced our data. A solution to this is a bit difficult in the fact