proportional counter tube
- noun
- /prəˈpɔrʃənl ˈkaʊntər tjuːb/
- Specialized
- Unlike a Geiger counter, a proportional counter tube provides information about the energy of detected particles.
Examples
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The proportional counter tube allows scientists to measure the intensity of radiation more precisely.
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Each proportional counter tube in the array was calibrated individually for accuracy.
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The proportional counter tube is essential in radiation detection.
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Many laboratories use a proportional counter tube for experiments.
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The proportional counter tube is an important device in nuclear physics experiments that measures radiation levels accurately.
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In research laboratories, the proportional counter tube is commonly used to detect ionizing radiation from various sources.
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Researchers rely on the proportional counter tube to obtain precise measurements of radiation intensity during their studies.
Synonyms
A device that detects and measures radiation by counting electric charges created inside a tube
Surface Forms
Morphology
proportional + counter + tube
The phrase transparently combines 'proportional' (having outputs that vary consistently), 'counter' (a device that counts) and 'tube' (a hollow cylindrical object), so a learner can infer a tube-shaped counting device whose output is proportional. However, the specific technical sense — a radiation detector producing pulses proportional to ionization — requires domain knowledge and is not fully predictable from the constituents alone.
Etymology
Proportional counter tube comes from how the device works: it is a long tube where incoming radiation makes tiny electric charges. The size of the small electric signal is proportional (it grows with the number of charges) and the counter part means the device 'counts' or 'measures' those signals, so the name tells you it measures radiation energy.