geiger-muller tube

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Word: Geiger-Muller Tube

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A Geiger-Muller tube is a device that detects radiation. It is part of a Geiger counter, which is an instrument used to measure ionizing radiation levels, such as alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays. The tube contains a gas that becomes ionized (charged) when radiation passes through it, allowing the device to register the presence of radiation.

Usage Instructions:

• The Geiger-Muller tube is used in various fields such as science, medicine, and safety to monitor and measure radiation levels.
• It is often used in environments where radioactive materials are present or where radiation exposure needs to be controlled.

Example Sentence:

• "The scientist used a Geiger-Muller tube to check for radiation levels in the laboratory after an experiment."

Advanced Usage:

• In advanced settings, the Geiger-Muller tube can be calibrated to detect specific types of radiation, and it can also be used in combination with other instruments for more detailed analysis.

Word Variants:

• Geiger Counter: The complete device that includes the Geiger-Muller tube and displays the radiation levels.
• Ionization: The process by which the gas in the tube becomes charged due to radiation.

Different Meanings:

• The term “Geiger” can also refer to Hans Geiger, the physicist who developed the device, while “Muller” refers to Walther Müller, who improved it. The name is not a common word outside of this context.

Synonyms:

• Radiation detector
• Radiation counter

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs specifically related to "Geiger-Muller tube," but you might hear phrases like "check for radiation" or "measure exposure" in contexts discussing it.

Academic

Noun

1. an ionization chamber contained in a tube in a Geiger counter

Synonyms

• Geiger tube
• Geiger-Muller tube