What is the relationship between counting rate and rate of decay?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dars
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Counting Rate
AI Thread Summary
Counting rate refers to the number of particles detected by a Geiger counter over a specific time period, while the rate of decay is a measure of how quickly a radioactive substance disintegrates. Although counting rate and rate of decay are related, they are not the same; counting rate depends on the efficiency of the detection method and the fraction of particles intercepted. Understanding the counting rate requires knowledge of the detection system's characteristics and the actual decay rate of the substance. The distinction is important for accurately interpreting data in nuclear physics and radiation detection.
Dars
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
what is "counting rate"?

Homework Statement


Is "counting rate" the same as "rate of decay"? This problem asks about counting rate, but i can't see this term anywhere in my physics book.. Is it like an alternate term for "rate of decay"
(also, counting rate isn't even on wikipedia)


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 
Physics news on Phys.org


A Geiger counter "counts" the number of particles that hit it (or a human counts the clicks over a minute or two). The number of hits per minute wouldn't be very helpful unless you knew what fraction of the particles were being intercepted by the counter.
 

Thread 'Errors and significant figures'

I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
View full post »
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
View full post »

Similar threads

Solving for Thickness of Lead to Reduce Count Rate to 50
Replies
3
Views
2K
Can Geiger Counter Ticks be converted into particle/wave counts?
Replies
12
Views
2K
What is the relationship between pressure and flow rate?
Replies
8
Views
4K
Radioactive Decay Rates and the Relationship between Decay Constants
Replies
4
Views
2K
What Is the Error in Counting Rate Per Second for Gamma Photons?
Replies
4
Views
2K
Beta Spectroscopy: Decay Path of Na 22 and Sr 90 | Experimental Setup & Results
Replies
1
Views
2K
Probability of counts from the counting rate of a radioactive sample?
Replies
3
Views
6K
Rate of emission of alpha particle in uranium decay
Replies
2
Views
2K
Ratio of the rate of decay of R to that of S after 2 hours
Replies
3
Views
1K
What Kind of Radiation Does the GM Counter Detect?
Replies
1
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top