@@WallaceSpirit lmfao. “Ancient civilizations used nuclear power” lay of the dope man, it’ll do u good. The radiation from your “nuclear reactor” will only exacerbate your condition.
@@benyseus6325 I can tell you no nothing about nuclear physics and saying that im on dope means I wont share any higj knowledge with you brother. Stay awesome
Yeah ikr. I disassembled one and checked it with my Geiger counter to see how radioactive it was and very quickly went like “Oh shit.” Now I’m searching online to figure out exactly how worried I should be.
@@johno.farrar431 Oh, don't worry, the radiation is alpha, so it isn't very good at penetrating the human body, and generally the particles wont get past your skin, just never allow an alpha emitter into your body, since there is no protective skin inside.
@@johno.farrar431 Alpha particles (He-4 nuclei w/o electrons) are very weak. So weak, in fact, that just a few cm of air or the top layer of your skin or even a paper bag will stop them. The real danger comes from ingesting alpha emitters, whether through swallowing an alpha emitter or grinding one into dust and inhaling it. So, while alpha emitters such as Am-241 are relatively safe, you should still treat it with respect and not do anything stupid with it. If I remember correctly, the reason why alpha particles are so easily able to be stopped is because they're really, really big compared to other forms of radiation (beta radiation takes the form of electrons, and gamma radiation is super intense electromagnetic radiation with a tiny wavelength, both are much more dangerous and smaller than alpha particles), meaning that alpha particles have a much higher chance of interacting with other atoms, which removes their energy and stops them. Take this with a grain of salt, though; I'm not a nuclear physicist.
@@FangTheManokit its deadly to inhale actual sh*t too lol, so that doesn't say much. additionally, its somewhat toxic to ingest actual sh*t as well considering how our bodies dump all the toxins and waste buildup into it.
Am241 is also a gamma emitter with a peak at about 60kev. Which is why it gives a signal on a geiger counter. This is low energy gamma but gets through paper and also the Geiger window.
In the photoelectric smoke detectors [1:20] you erroneously state smoke it detected when blocks the path of the beam. Referring to the diagram, light reaches the photodetector when it scatters off the smoke. This is an important distinction for it's easier to see a very dim light in darkness (small signal with no background noise) than a small change in a large signal (small signal in large background noise).
Unfortunately, my americium smoke alarms also went off when someone took a shower. 'Tis unfortunate, but at least it gave me an excuse to take them apart, lol. They're a decade old anyway, so it was probably about time.
What was the level of radiation I have a old CD V-700 and it's still hard for me to read the levels with the detector being a analog type of Geiger counters
Does americium need to be replaced in some cases? Some of the smoke detectors in my house don't work as well as they use to. Sometimes they occasionally beep loudly from time to time, even when there's no smoke & the battery's full.
its probably the electronics going bad, they say to replace em every couple years. Am-241 has a halflife of 432 years, so the source will still be good well after youve died.
Was that a newer or older smoke alarm? I honestly should know considering I’m a collector, but if it’s newer, I’m surprised they still make that model. Also would explain why it’s so common
I just get out my Americium button to use as a test source for my geiger counter. What is the best way to store this. In a small metal can? I know if gives off weak gamma radiation so just not sure what container is best for safe storage. I plan to include a radioactive warning sticker. Thanks!
Ingesting radioactive material. By leaving it alone the material is safely contained in the housing. To remove it would mean you know have the possibility of contaminating yourself. Alpha radiation is incredibly dangerous inside your body. Inhalation, broken skin, mucosal membranes, and ingestion of Am241 will be hazardous. Ionizing radiation does leave the housing contrary to what he states. Don’t remove the material.
Careful when you say that alpha is a weak kind of radiation, in reality it's the most dangerous and highest energy kind of radiation! The fact that it's stopped by a piece of paper shows how easily it interacts with matter, while beta and gamma are safer because they are more likely to pass thought you without interacting.
Alpha and beta can be dangerous if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin. Skin contamination of these can be washed off. The others are much more dangerous at all times so long as you are near the source.
