Radioactive source for Crookes spinthariscope
date: label: date made
content: early 20th century
name: label: maker
content: Crookes, William
notes: label: Description
content: A spinthariscope is a device for observing individual nuclear disintegrations caused by the interaction of ionizing radiation with a phosphor or scintillator. Typically, an eyepiece and a radiation source are located at opposite ends of the cylindrical device.
label: Description
content: Two types of spinthariscope are shown in the accompanying multi-object image; a Crookes spinthariscope appears on the right. (Photograph provided by donor, Prof. Herbert Clark, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.)
label: Description
content: For general background on the spinthariscope go to:
label: Description
content: http://skullsinthestars.com/2011/04/25/the-spinthariscope-see-atoms-decay-before-your-eyes/
label: Description
content: For background on the Crookes spinthariscope go to: https://www.orau.org/ptp/collection/spinthariscopes/crookes.htm
label: Description
content: Description of the separate source for the Crookes spinthariscope, object ID no. 1994.0125.17.2
label: Description
content: This separate radioactive source, presumably radium, for Crookes spinthariscope object ID 1994.0125.17.1, is enclosed in a 3 7/8” x 1 ½” x ¼” case of unknown material, with a cardboard lid held by a cloth hinge in which a rectangular window roughly 2” wide by 1” deep. Behind the window is a circular depression about 3/8” in diameter, in the center of which embedded in an unknown white matrix, the presumed 1 mm diameter source lies. Visible through the window, above the source well is the inscription “The Spinthariscope”, and below the source well is the inscription “W. Crookes 1903”. The source .17.2 in the case appears in the accompanying multi-object image, second object from the right.
label: Description
content: The sides of the case are further enclosed by stacks of glass microscope slides 3/16’ thick, held by twisted wires and foam pads over top and bottom. The glass slides were placed on both sides of the case by Clark; they have been left undisturbed as a precautionary measure. The object .17.2 in this arrangment appears in the second accompanying image.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United Kingdom: England, London
topic: label: web subject
content: Science & Scientific Instruments
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Modern Physics
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content: Science & Mathematics
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content: Modern Physics
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content: Measuring & Mapping
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Department of Chemistry
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1994.0125.17.2
label: accession number
content: 1994.0125
label: catalog number
content: 1994.0125.17.2
objectType: label: Object Name
content: radioactive source for Crookes spinthariscope
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: cloth (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: radioactive source (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: .8 cm x 9.8 cm x 3.8 cm; 5/16 in x 3 7/8 in x 1 1/2 in