Well... 1 Ci = 3.7×10E+10 decays per second, so 10 uCi = 3.7x10E+5
So, if the counting interval was 1 second, one can expect 370,000 +/- 6000 counts. The count rate seems reasonable for easily available equipment. Longer count times are, of course, needed to get the 6000/370,000 number down. If the count time went to 100 seconds, 60,000/37,000,000 (SQRT N / N ). Poisson Statistics. -John ================= > On 8/3/11 12:14 PM, J. Forster wrote: >> Hi Brooke, >> >> Maybe. The photon counting gear is pretty trivial. You'd need: >> >> A scintillator >> A PMT (Photo Multiplier Tube) and HV stable HV PS. >> A preamp >> A SCA (Single Channel Analyzer). These can be built. >> A counter, stable time base, and data recorder >> >> The main difficulty, IMO, would be getting a sufficient sized lump of >> the >> material. Chunks of Cs don't grow on trees, at least not where I live. >> > > Does it have to be Cs? United Nuclear sells a wide variety of > calibration sources for <$100. Yes, they have Cs137 (10 microCuries)... > > > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > > _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.