Very nice demonstration! I had a spark detector, but it broke, so hopefully I'll be able to rebuild mine soon. I've used Po-210, Ra-226, Pu-239, and Am-241. Even strong uranium and thorium minerals will produce some sparks due to the various decay radionuclides. The alpha radiation energy can be distinguished on how far it is from the spark detector. Am-241 and Po-210 are about the same, however Pu-239 is slightly less energetic. Ra-226 will produce sparks at about twice the distance, due to the high energy alpha particles emitted by the decay progeny of Ra-226 (now in secular equilibrium), like Po-218 and Po-214. It's quite an interesting, yet simple design for using high voltage as a method for detecting alpha particles.
I found an old Soviet RID-6M smoke detector, which contains two 5.7 μCi sealed sources. They're just hard to find. It's activity is similar to the Am-241 sealed source used in this video. It's actually my safest source, when it comes to external exposure. Also, Pu-239-in fact, most long-lived and common plutonium isotopes hardly emit any gamma radiation, whereas americium isotopes, do. These gamma rays are also mostly of low-energy. The chemistry and radiotoxicity of plutonium and americium are also very similar, too. Ra-226 on the other hand, is much more hazardous, internally and externally, and it used to be used in almost everything that needed to glow in the dark-without a power source, during the first half of the 20th century, until the late 1960's in most 1st world countries. I don't know of any country that still uses Ra-226, which was replaced with Pm-147, and then H-3 (tritium), which are low-energy beta (electron) emitters. ☢
Yes. Terrestrial helium-4 is mined and refined from the alpha decay of naturally occurring alpha emitters, like the 4n+2 (uranium) series, the 4n (thorium) series, and to a lesser extent, the 4n+3 (actinium) series, and to an even lesser extent than that, the 4n+1 (neptunium) series. When an alpha particle interacts with matter, like air, it will liberate electrons from other atoms, producing ions. As it loses kinetic energy, it will eventually capture two electrons, to produce helium-4, and the matter that it previously interacted with will lose those electrons, becoming ions. This is why alpha (and other charged particles) are considered to be _directly_ ionizing radiation. From a small or low-activity source, the amount of helium-4 produced is miniscule, but on a geological scale, you can acquire a lot of helium-4.
what a real pleasure to listen to someone who can communicate and teach comprehensibly,subscribed!
Very nice demonstration! I had a spark detector, but it broke, so hopefully I'll be able to rebuild mine soon. I've used Po-210, Ra-226, Pu-239, and Am-241. Even strong uranium and thorium minerals will produce some sparks due to the various decay radionuclides. The alpha radiation energy can be distinguished on how far it is from the spark detector. Am-241 and Po-210 are about the same, however Pu-239 is slightly less energetic. Ra-226 will produce sparks at about twice the distance, due to the high energy alpha particles emitted by the decay progeny of Ra-226 (now in secular equilibrium), like Po-218 and Po-214. It's quite an interesting, yet simple design for using high voltage as a method for detecting alpha particles.
How did you get plutonium
I found an old Soviet RID-6M smoke detector, which contains two 5.7 μCi sealed sources. They're just hard to find. It's activity is similar to the Am-241 sealed source used in this video. It's actually my safest source, when it comes to external exposure. Also, Pu-239-in fact, most long-lived and common plutonium isotopes hardly emit any gamma radiation, whereas americium isotopes, do. These gamma rays are also mostly of low-energy. The chemistry and radiotoxicity of plutonium and americium are also very similar, too. Ra-226 on the other hand, is much more hazardous, internally and externally, and it used to be used in almost everything that needed to glow in the dark-without a power source, during the first half of the 20th century, until the late 1960's in most 1st world countries. I don't know of any country that still uses Ra-226, which was replaced with Pm-147, and then H-3 (tritium), which are low-energy beta (electron) emitters. ☢
@@KarbineKyle**The Secret Service wants to know your location**
can you make helium gas with alpha radiation?? what happens too the particle once it's released to the air?
Yes. Terrestrial helium-4 is mined and refined from the alpha decay of naturally occurring alpha emitters, like the 4n+2 (uranium) series, the 4n (thorium) series, and to a lesser extent, the 4n+3 (actinium) series, and to an even lesser extent than that, the 4n+1 (neptunium) series. When an alpha particle interacts with matter, like air, it will liberate electrons from other atoms, producing ions. As it loses kinetic energy, it will eventually capture two electrons, to produce helium-4, and the matter that it previously interacted with will lose those electrons, becoming ions. This is why alpha (and other charged particles) are considered to be _directly_ ionizing radiation. From a small or low-activity source, the amount of helium-4 produced is miniscule, but on a geological scale, you can acquire a lot of helium-4.
Great Video, but I can't stop laughing at how much this guy looks like Nicolas Cage if he decided to become a scientist instead of a doctor 🤣🤣🤣🤣
You are great SIR
I like the chuckle after you you safely handle it as if yall dont,😂
Those Russian soldiers who inhaled tons of alpha-particle laden dust at Chernobyl are in for a bad ride.
excellent marketing for STEM students....
Nice
wow that was interesting
Calm down young lady.
lol
Bro knows radiation but don't know one sleeve of his shirt is about 3 inches too long