Experiments on Radioactivity in a Student Laboratory

Abstract

This paper shows how to run some experiments on radioactivity in a student laboratory, aiming to investigate the Poisson distribution of decays and the use of chi-squared test. Avoiding specific problems of safety control, which is necessary when radioactive sources are used, we are proposing measurements of the natural background and emission of potassium chloride. The detector is a Geiger-Müller tube. In the case the budget for laboratory and its equipment is limited, the use of a virtual alternative is proposed. Some virtual experiments are discussed too.

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