Replica of apparatus used by Joliot-Curie in the discovery of artificially induced radioactivity
date: label: Date made
content: 1934
name: label: maker
content: Joliot-Curie, F and I
notes: label: Description
content: Object EM*N-09624.2 is a replica of the apparatus used by Joliot-Curie in the discovery of artificial radioactivity. The apparatus consists of batteries, a geiger counter tube, and electronics
label: Description
content: Component parts have been given index numbers under N-09624.2 as follows:
label: Description
content: .2.1.1 Amplifying and counting apparatus
label: Description
content: .2.1.2 Vatea vacuum tube
label: Description
content: .2.1.3 Mazda metal vacuum tube
label: Description
content: .2.1.4 Visseaux vacuum tube (lost)
label: Description
content: .2.1.5 Small brass nut for binding post, found loose in crate in which object parts were returned from loan to Oak Ridge, Sept. 2, 1997
label: Description
content: .2.1.6 Small brass hexagonal nut , found loose in same crate.
label: Description
content: .2.1.7 Very small bras round-head screw, found loose in same crate
label: Description
content: .2.2 Geiger counter tube with tripod and base
label: Description
content: .2.2.1 Jack plug detached from wire connected to Geiger counter tube
label: Description
content: .2.3.1 Tray with 15 batteries
label: Description
content: .2.3.2 Short wire with white jack fittings (original location unclear)
label: Description
content: .2.4.1 Large battery, Mazda Type R.5910
label: Description
content: .2.4.2 Red wire for positive terminal
label: Description
content: .2.4.3 Gray wire for negative terminal
label: Description
content: See folder in curator's files "Loan to Oak Ridge 1991.9100 for details of the loan of the replica Becquerel and Joliot-Curie apparatus to the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge, TN, and for information on the damage the objects sustained while on loan.
label: Description
content: History and basic principles:
label: Description
content: James Chadwick in his experiments at the Cavendish Laboratory in 1932 demonstrated the existence of the neutron, the uncharged particle of about the mass of a proton long anticipated by Ernest Rutherford and members of his Cambridge research group. Chadwick recognized evidence of the neutron in I. and F. Joliot-Curie's description of phenomena resulting from the bombardment of beryllium by alpha particles.
label: Description
content: Irene Curie, daughter of Marie, and Irene's husband, Frederick Joliot, had pointed out the phenomena in which Chadwick had recognized evidence of the neutron. Although they missed that discovery, continued investigation of the bombardment of light elements by alpha particles led them to in 1934 to recognize that in the process radioactivity was being induced artificially in the target nuclei. Their Nobel prize followed immediately.
label: Description
content: Object EM*N-09624.2 is a replica of the apparatus used in their discovery. The aluminum cylinder is a Geiger counter tube to measure counts of radioactive disintegrations. The batteries provide the Geiger counter with high voltage, while the chassis contains the electronic equipment to amplify and add its counts.
place: label: place made
content: France
topic: label: general subject association
content: Science & Scientific Instruments
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Modern Physics
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content: Energy & Power
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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: Government of France
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: EM.N-09624.2
label: catalog number
content: EM*N-09624.2
label: accession number
content: 277564
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Apparatus, Artificial Radioactivity
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: glass; metal; brass; wire (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: amplifying & counting apparatus (overall)//: 5 1/4 in x 19 3/4 in x 11 13/16 in; 13.335 cm x 50.165 cm x 30.00375 cm
label: Measurements
content: geiger counter tube, tripod & base: 6 3/32 in x 4 in x 4 in; 15.47812 cm x 10.16 cm x 10.16 cm
label: Measurements
content: battery tray: 8 5/16 in x 25 1/2 in x 5 1/8 in; 21.11375 cm x 64.77 cm x 13.0175 cm