spinthariscope

[ spin-thar-uh-skohp ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

an instrument that detects ionizing radiation by picking up sparks of light from alpha particles.

spinthariscope

/ spɪnˈθærɪˌskəʊp /

a device for observing ionizing radiation, consisting of a tube with a magnifying lens at one end and a phosphorescent screen at the other. A particle hitting the screen produces a scintillation

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First recorded in 1900–1905; formed irregulary from Greek spintharí(s) (inflectional stem spintharíd- ) “spark” + -scope ( def )

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C20: from Greek spintharis a little spark + -scope

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Sir William Crookes invented this radium light apparatus and called it a "spinthariscope," which is Greek for "spark-seer."

But the most striking way of showing the emanations is by the little contrivance I call a Spinthariscope.

A simple form of apparatus called the spinthariscope has been devised to show these scintillations.

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