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Control the Wireless Geiger Counter

Control the high voltage supplied to the sensor's Geiger–Müller tube to measure the count rate for different tube voltages. Plot count rate versus tube voltage to experimentally observe the Geiger plateau characteristics of the tube.

About the control panel

The DC Voltage across the Geiger–Müller (G-M) tube is controlled using the Geiger Counter panel in the Tools palette. The panel appears as an option when the Wireless Geiger Counter is connected to Capstone. There are three settings that you can choose from:

  • Automatic

    Select this option to have the voltage across the G-M tube set to an optimal value. This is the default option.

  • Manual Control

    Select this option to manually set the voltage across the G-M tube by using the slider.

  • Ramp

    Select this option to automatically adjust the voltage across the G-M tube from a specified initial value to a specified final value. The software will automatically change the voltage by one step on the slider for each sample period specified in the sample rate. For example, if you set the sample rate for 30 seconds, the voltage will change by one step on the slider every 30 seconds.

In addition to these settings, the Geiger Counter panel contains two additional settings which can be adjusted via checkbox:

  • Enable beeps: Prevents Capstone from suppressing the beep produced by the Wireless Geiger Counter when it detects a radioactive particle
  • Record only one interval: Stops data collection after the count has been measured for a single interval.

Note

The option to record only one interval is disabled when the Ramp setting is chosen for the voltage.

Plot the tube's Geiger plateau

Use the Ramp option with a Graph display to plot Count Rate versus Tube Voltage.

  1. Set up your experiment with a radioactive sample to measure.

    Tip

    If this is your first time using the sensor, see this video.

  2. Click the Geiger Counter panel, then select Ramp.

  3. Set the Initial DC Voltage using the slider. The voltage across the G-M tube will start at this value.
  4. Set the Final DC Voltage using the slider. The voltage across the G-M tube will end at this voltage.
  5. Select the checkbox to stop recording data when the Final DC Voltage is reached.
  6. In the Controls palette, set the sample rate.
  7. Add a Graph display to the workbook page, selecting Count Rate on the y-axis and Tube Voltage on the x-axis.
  8. Click Record to start recording data. Data recording will stop automatically once the final voltage is reached.