Recent content by SteveUSA

The basic barometric formula for calculating atmospheric pressure is (Ph: pressure at height h) = (Pzero: pressure at height zero) x exp(-mgh/kT), where the height h unit is meters, P unit is pascals, m is the mass of an average "air" molecule, g is the acceleration of gravity, k is the...

I am no expert on electricity, but I have seen credible reports of large birds getting killed when their wings touch 2 wires on take-off. Hawks and ospreys love to perch and to build nests on tall electric towers. Mostly they are OK, but one occasionally gets fried.

I was checking for whatever response I might get, ranging from "those are crap" to "oh yeah, I used one and it matched readings from other instruments". I would not trust a single instrument. Without at least 2 methods which agree, no way to be confident.

I thank you for the reply. I actually did run a test 15-20 years ago with a $20 sample collector purchased from, and analyzed by, the University of Pennsylvania, which reported 4.0 picocuries/liter, on the threshold of concern. I wanted to check for potential changes and started researching...

I was looking online at detectors in the $150-$200 range, queried a seller's website, asked how the electrons or helium nuclei (aka alpha particles) from radon could be discriminated from other sources. The reply: "Rn222 is the only thing the monitor measures and it is relatively unaffected by...