NAME: Akiel-Daniel Crooks DATE: 09/03/2023 LAB #: 13

TITLE: Radioactivity Plan and Design

PROBLEM STATEMENT: Many homes have smoke detectors fitted to the ceilings of
certain rooms to provide an early warning of a fire. These detectors contain a weak
radioactive source that ionizes the air between two metal plates. A low voltage battery in
the detector causes the ions to move. This produces a very small ionization current in a
circuit containing the battery and the plates. Any reduction in this ionization current due to
smoke is detected and an alarm sounds. An airline company wishes to install some of these
smoke detectors in its aircraft and needs to know if changes in air pressure will affect the
ionization current.

HYPOTHESIS: The ionization current between two metal plates is directly proportional to the
air pressure, i.e. I ∝ p.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between the ionization current, I and air pressure, p.

APPARATUS:
A radioactive source α–emitter (Americium 241), G-M tube, ratemeter, two metal plates,
connecting wires, 9V battery, microammeter, barometer, vacuum pump, rubber tubing and
sealable airtight glass container

DIAGRAM:

Fig 1: assembly of the apparatus

NAME: Akiel-Daniel Crooks DATE: 09/03/2023 LAB #: 13

METHOD:
1) Set up apparatus as shown in Fig 1, ensuring that the α–emitter (Americium 241) is
keeped a constant distance from the metal plates.
2) Record pressure reading from barometer.
3) Use G-M tube and ratemeter to detect α-radiation and record the ionizing current.
4) Reduce pressure within the glass container using vacuum pump and record new pressure
reading.
5) Record change in ionization current.
6) Repeat steps 4 and 5 for five different readings of current and pressure.
7) Tabulate readings and plot a graph of current, I vs pressure, p.

THEORY:
Radioactivity is the random and spontaneous disintegration of atoms. A radioactive element,
such as Americium has an unstable nucleus. Due to its instability it emits α-particles. The energy
produced during this radiation results in the ionization of the air, i.e. it converts air molecules
onto positive and negative ions. When observed through a cloud chamber, α-particles show short
thick tracks of similar length. This means that α-particles produce a high concentration of ions.
This allows for a detectable value in current to be obtained. The Geiger-Mullen (G-M) tube is
one of the most important instruments for detecting radiation. A radioactive particle passing
through a G-M tube produces an electric pulse which is logged by a counter attached to the tube.
This counter is known as a ratemeter. This is essentially what occurs in the operation of a smoke
detector, which automatically detects smoke and sounds an alarm indicating the presence of a
fire. Inside a smoke detector there contains two small metal plates, called electrodes. Across
these plates a radioactive emitter, usually Americium-241 emits alpha particles. This results in
the ionization of the air, i.e. it converts air molecules onto positive and negative ions. When the
plates are charged by a power source, such as a battery, the positive ions are attracted to the
negative plate and the negative ions are attracted to the positive plate. This movement of ions is
referred to as ionizing current. When smoke enters the detector, ions bond with the smoke
particles and break the path of current, thereby breaking the circuit and sounding an alarm.
Americium-241 is a source of alpha decay, and hence can be used as an α-emitter. It is seen as
the most suitable emitter for this experiment as it has a long half-life, i.e. it takes a long time for
half of the radioactive atoms of the element to decay. This means that the decay rate will be
fairly constant and have a high ionizing power, producing a large number of ions, which can
produce obtainable values of current when there are changes in pressure. Americium is also not
very penetrating so it will be safe for use by students in the lab. Also a long half-life means that
the decay rate will be fairly constant.
NAME: Akiel-Daniel Crooks DATE: 09/03/2023 LAB #: 13

Fig 2: Expected graph of ionization current vs pressure graph

The graph indicates that as the pressure increases so too does the ionization current. Therefore
the graph shows that current is directly proportional to the pressure.

VARIABLES:
Controlled:
- Potential Difference (P.D.) across the plate
- Distance between radioactive source and metal plates
- separation between the plates
- Decay rate of the radioactive source

Manipulated

- Pressure

Responding

- Ionizing current
NAME: Akiel-Daniel Crooks DATE: 09/03/2023 LAB #: 13

RESULTS:

Pressure, p (Pa) Ionizing Current, I (µA)

ASSUMPTIONS:
1. Radioactive decay is a random process so even though a long half-life indicates a
constant half-life, it could vary.
2. Resistance build-up in circuit can increase heat which can affect temperature and
pressure

PRECAUTIONS:
1. Keep radioactive source close to the plates for ionization to take place since alpha particles
do not have a long range in air
2. Measure background radiation with G-M tube and ratemeter before introducing the source
for the experiment.
3. Increase pressure in small increments to avoid damage to the system which make cause
leakage or breakage
4. Use tongs when dealing with radioactive source, do not handle directly.