Why Do Geiger Counters Make That Clicking Sound?

You don't have to fight feral ghouls to be familiar with the clicking sound of a geiger counter, but what exactly makes these radiation detecting devices click?

#SciShow #Radiation #Science #Geiger

Hosted by: Michael Aranda

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[slothsonbikes]

After HBO's Chernobyl my youtube search history has gotten significantly more diverse. I'm glad SciShow is ready to feed my obsession.

[annafalaxis]

I used to work with these. I could calibrate them, use them, and read them, but I never knew exactly how they worked. Thank you for this video!

[doggonemess]

This is why it clicks, but they didn't say what makes the clicking sound. Depending on your meter (many older Geiger counters are actually radiation survey meters, the difference is a lack of counting) if you have one from before 1970 or so, it probably doesn't have a speaker. It has an electromagnet with a little steel plate next to it in a headphone. The signal turns the magnet on and off quickly, which makes the click. I always thought that was really cool.

[SciencewithKatie]

I was confused about how Geiger counters worked, but then one day it just clicked...

[sophierobinson]

Having spent 1st and 2nd grade practicing "Duck and Cover" drills and watching short movies on the dangers of nuclear fallout, I'm very familiar with that sound.

[maukaman]

Thanks SciShow! It was nice to see that my great grandfather Walther Müller got his credit on this one. Due to the craziness in Germany in that time period as well as Walther being a only a student at the time has led to his contribution to this invention being largely forgotten from what I can see. Also, “Geiger-Müller Counter” is quite a mouthful. I like to think that anyone who helped get a dusty 20 year old idea off the shelf and straight into scientific history deserves some recognition. So for that I thank you.

[johnbagel]

I am usually negative but after a nice day basking in the rays of ionizing radiation I feel pretty positive.
*Not including the fact that I am dead of course*

[Brian_itf]

3.6 roentgen....not great but not terrible

[redcobra]

Geinger counter : " make noise"
Chernobyl YouTubers : " let's touch that radiated item / metal / anything "

[jacplac]

"Dangerous radiation level. Protection required to pass"
Ok then...
*chugs 4 bottles of cheap vodka*
Bring it on, suka!.

[SoulDragonWithFlow]

I tried to make a chemistry joke, but all the good ones Argon

[davidgoodwinjr.]

Geiger counter goes nuts after I fart in class. Everyone runs for the vault.

[shogun]

Pff, Ive been hearing Geiger clicking since Half Life in 1998.

[BoSinnfan]

I watched HBO's Chernobyl.
After all episodes this clicking noise still remained in my head.

[jtsoto]

You don't hear the Geiger Counter detecing radiation because IT'S NOT THERE! *_pukes_*

[DataCabe]

To detect radiation in the Human Resources dept., one might use an H.R. Geiger Counter.

[kensmith]

It is common to have a meter on a Geiger counter. In better quality ones, the dead time after each hit is corrected for.

[hellomotos]

Cheers! Was just calculating the deadtime for my counter and this really helped explain things!

[duckmaneuvers]

The first time I heard the sound was from Half-Life 1. It makes the sound when I'm nearby radioactive pools on certain levels.

I never knew why it makes that sound because I'm young back then.

I've always assume that they're bubbles from the radioactive pools lol

[xxXthekevXxx]

This is one of those questions I’ve always wondered, but never really thought about enough to look it up. Awesome!