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proportional counter tube

proportional counter tube

8.2
A tube that detects radiation and gives an electrical signal showing how strong the radiation is
  • noun
  • /prəˈpɔrʃənl ˈkaʊntər tjuːb/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tubo contador proporcional
  • Unlike a Geiger counter, a proportional counter tube provides information about the energy of detected particles.

Examples

  • The proportional counter tube allows scientists to measure the intensity of radiation more precisely.

  • Each proportional counter tube in the array was calibrated individually for accuracy.

  • The proportional counter tube is essential in radiation detection.

  • Many laboratories use a proportional counter tube for experiments.

  • The proportional counter tube is an important device in nuclear physics experiments that measures radiation levels accurately.

  • In research laboratories, the proportional counter tube is commonly used to detect ionizing radiation from various sources.

  • Researchers rely on the proportional counter tube to obtain precise measurements of radiation intensity during their studies.

Synonyms

proportional counter
vsproportional counter tube
  • Specialized
7.2

A device that detects and measures radiation by counting electric charges created inside a tube

refers to that detector when named for its cylindrical internal component

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.