Just wondering if there are easily available sources of gamma radiation for testing the GRS?

For fun I tried putting a clock with luminous hands next to the tube - No change.

As tobacco contains thorium I tried putting a pack of cigarettes next to the tube (much to the amusement of my wife!) - No change.

Brazil nuts look possible, but the radium therein could produce alpha, beta or gamma radiation IIUC. I may buy some tomorrow. If nothing else, I get a tasty snack ;)

Any ideas? Not looking to spend much money or buy medical/educational stuff that I'll probably use once out of curiosity :)

Al.

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A house smoke alarm is Americium 241. mostly alpha with some low level gamma. Given the small amount of the radioactive material in one, about half a gram. would the radiation detector detect any from it? Would it have significant energy to trigger and not get lost in the background radiation?

With this, given that pretty much most households have smoke alarms, is the gamma coming from them perhaps biasing the readings?

Aaron

Ah yes, I did find smoke alarms by googling earlier. Completely forgot to try one of ours! Will have a play tomorrow.

Meanwhile I now have a craving for brazil nuts. Especially salted ones :) Our Polish house guest has never eaten a brazil nut, so she can try some when I get them. She was interested in this project, and was telling me about radioactive carrot juice earlier. Must research that story.

Al.

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I just tried putting a smoke alarm close to the detector, and it does indeed shower a higher average! Also, looking closer at the detector, there's a radioactive warning label on it ;)
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Put a smoke alarm on my GRS 90 minutes ago - Can clearly see the rise in levels! A good 50% up!

The results from @Kenneth Larsen are even more impressive!

Al.

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