Common Household Nuclear Reactions

[tinacoolman17]

I am designing a Rube Goldberg machine and I am trying to incorporate a nuclear reaction. I do not want to split an atom or anything, but I do need something other than a smoke detector or a microwave to use. Is there any household or common object/device that uses a nuclear reaction?

 

[russ_watters]

Welcome to PF.

Microwaves do not use nuclear reactions. The only thing besides a smoke detector may be something that glows in the dark, though probably not anymore - you may need something old.

 

[QuantumPion]

There's nothing household, but you could get a small test source and a Geiger counter, and set up the rube goldberg machine to lift a shielding block out of the way between them. Then somehow use the counter's reading to set up the next machine.

 

[tinacoolman17]

Oh thank you! I was always told that a microwave had something to do with nuclear reactions.
For the Geiger counter--what could be emitted from the source to make the needle move.

I am kind of bad at physics, I apologize. lol.

 

[JaredJames]

Isn't there something to do with beta radiation and bananas?

If so, perhaps the reading from that on a Geiger counter?

 

[berkeman]

Granite countertops can have a little radioactivity -- maybe use that:

http://www.epa.gov/rpdweb00/tenorm/granite-countertops.html

.

 

[tinacoolman17]

agh, I can't get my hands on a Geiger counter--that would have been perfect too.

My teacher said that there is a very easy way to get a reaction, but she won't tell us what it is... we could use the smoke detector, but we can't get it to go off consistently. We have to have the whole Rube Goldberg machine complete it's task at 60 seconds (no more, no less).

 

[Dale]

Some watches have glowing hands that use tritium decay.

The human body has a decent amount of radioactive potassium-40, that might be related to the banannas comment above.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Background_radiation#Radiation_inside_the_human_body

 

[berkeman]

My teacher said that there is a very easy way to get a reaction, but she won't tell us what it is... we could use the smoke detector, but we can't get it to go off consistently.

I wonder what happens when you set (the right kind of) smoke detector on a granite countertop...

 

[Drakkith]

I wonder what happens when you set (the right kind of) smoke detector on a granite countertop...

It's like crossing the streams...

 

[JaredJames]

It's like crossing the streams...

Two drunken blokes with soaked shoes?

 

[tinacoolman17]

I feel like splitting an atom would be easier. lol.

 

[Drakkith]

Two drunken blokes with soaked shoes?

And then every molecule in their bodies exploded at the speed of light.

 

[JaredJames]

And then every molecule in their bodies exploded at the speed of light.

Was a very good night.

Just out of curiosity (I don't know much about radiation), would an electron gun be considered a source of beta radiation? (I'm thinking of an old CRT TV).

 

[Drakkith]

Was a very good night.

Just out of curiosity (I don't know much about radiation), would an electron gun be considered a source of beta radiation? (I'm thinking of an old CRT TV).

I would say yes. It emits electrons, just like beta decay does. Not the same mechanism, but both shoot electrons out.

 

[JaredJames]

I would say yes. It emits electrons, just like beta decay does. Not the same mechanism, but both shoot electrons out.

In which case, if you have one of those TV's, you have a simple source.

 

[Drakkith]

In which case, if you have one of those TV's, you have a simple source.

Depends on what the OP needs. An electron emitted from beta decay or the tube in a TV wil not travel more than a few inches through air I believe. So I'm not sure how much good it will do.

 

[Creator]

Is there any household or common object/device that uses a nuclear reaction?

OK; you asked for it.
Common salt substitute potassium chloride; a fraction of the potassium is Potassium-40 , a beta emitter, around 1 mev.
see here:



Creator