Geiger Counter - predict counts?

AI Thread Summary
Predicting the count rate for a radioactive material depends on knowledge of both the material and the measuring instrument. The term "precisely" is subjective, as count rates can only be estimated within the limits of probability. Highly radioactive substances yield more accurate counts over time due to increased decay events. While a random process cannot be predicted with zero error, specifying the desired precision allows for an approximate calculation of necessary events to achieve that level of accuracy. Understanding these factors is crucial for effective use of Geiger counters in measuring radioactivity.
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Are you able to predict precisely the count rate for a radioactive material?
Why or why not?
 
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Depends upon how much you know about the radioactive material and how much you know about the instrument and how it is being used. Also depends upon what you mean by "precisely."
 
You can only know the number of counts as accurately as probability allows. A highly radioactive substance will be more accurate over a given amount of time than a lesser radioactive substance simply due to the greater amount of decays that the first substance undergoes in that period of time.
 
A 'random' process cannot be predicted 'precisely' (i.e. zero error). However, if you specify the required precision, then you can say (approximately) how many events would need to be known in order to reach that (order of) precision.
 

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