Run the Exercise

To run this exercise click here: http://kj-robolab3.uio.no:8000/RoboLab.html. Before you can run the exercise you need to have booked a time slot (see below) and have installed the appropriate LabView plug-in (as explained on the main RoboLab page).

Booking

To book a time slot for using this remote controlled laboratory you must contact Jon Petter Omtvedt (UiO). Please provide full name, affiliation and when you would like to run the exercise. You will not be able to use the system before you have received a username and password.

Learning Goals

• To understand how gamma radiation is absorbed and attenuated by matter

Introduction

In this exercise, you use RoboLab to measure the radiation of a γ source with a NaI detector. Absorbers of different materials and varying thickness are placed between the source and the detector to demonstrate how the gamma ray intensity is attenuated by the shielding.

Student Guides

• Absorption of Gamma Radiation (to be written)
• Robolab procedure for absorption of γ-radiation
• Analysing the Data (to be written)
• General theory on absorption of radiation (from NucWik NRC textbook)

Teacher Guides

• About learning benefits from this exercise (to be written)
• How to prepare for using this exercise (to be written)
• Notes on methods for analysing the data (to be written)

Alternative uses

• This RoboLab setup can be used to investigate counting statistics and standard deviation related to measurement of radiation. Attenuate the count rate by selecting a suitable lead absorber thickness and have the students perform measurement series under identical conditions to observe the deviation in the number of counts.

Developed By

Jon Petter Omtvedt, Nuclear Chemistry Group
Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Norway

Feedback and Ideas from Users and Supervisors

Feedback and improvement ideas from users (student and teachers) for this RoboLab exercise - absorption of gamma radiation - is collected here.