EXPERIMENT: Physics of The Atoms

HYPOTHESIS: To determine if background radiation is independent on location

THEORY: Unavoidable radiation known as background radiation and is the natural radioactivity
that is always present in our surroundings Sources of background radiation includes:
Radioactive materials in the earth, e.g deposits of uranium and radium.
Foods and drinks. Radioactive materials in the Earths surface are taken up by plants and
animals or become dissolved in our supply.
Cosmic rays. High energy radiations which enter the Earths atmosphere from space.
Cosmic rays collide with atoms in the atmosphere, producing radioactive species.
The air. The air contain small amounts of thoron and radon which are two radioactive
gases.

VARIABLES: Controlled: The sensitivity of Geiger Muller tube, the height of the tube from the
ground,
Manipulated: The location of each reading.
Responding: Background radiation

APPARATUS: Location (Places)

Retort Stand
Geiger Muller tube

Michael
Timson
Physics

DIAGRAM: DIAGRAM SHOWING SET UP OF THE EXPERIMENT

Michael
Timson
Physics

METHOD:
1. Locate three areas in the country.
2. Place the retort stand on an even surface on the ground.
3. Place your Geiger Muller tube on the ground with the retort stand supporting the tube
1cm above ground height facing downwards.
4. Switch on the Geiger Muller tube moving the range switch to the most sensitive position.
5. Measure background radiation for 60 seconds and record your readings.
6. For each location measure three times and find the average of your readings.
Resort Stand
RESULTS: TABLE SHOW THE REBOUND HEIGHT AND H r/Ho FOR THE NUMBER OF
PAPER USED.
Location

Radiation Level/rad
R1

Arima

R2

Average
R3

Tube
Reading

Point Fortin

Rate Meter

St. Margaret

CALCULATIONS: -

PRECAUTIONS:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Ensure the areas are the same as sea level.

Place the Geiger Muller tube 1 cm above the ground level at each location.
Obtain more than 1 reading at each location to ensure accurate results.
Ensure that the three reading at different location occur the same time
Ground
1 cm above ground
level
LIMITATIONS:
1. Not every location would be exact sea levels.
2. Temperature wont be same everywhere which would affect the results.
3. Environmental condition may not be the same
EXPECTED RESULTS:

Michael
Timson
Physics

 Background radiation is independent on location if all the reading a generally the same
Background radiation is dependent on location if all the reading are not the same.
CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of experimental error

Michael
Timson
Physics