Category Archives: Odd Projects

And more. Here are 118 more projects of mine. This section is a diverse mix of strange physics, electrical oddities, lasers, magnetic levitation, monster LEDs, radioactivity and bizarre substances.

Radium

Leave a reply

Radioluminescent watch face lit here with UV light. The phosphor no longer is bright enough to see with the Radium.

This 1930’s watch face had radium painted numerals to permanently glow in the dark. It has long stopped being visible as the phosphor degenerated. Strong UV light can still light it up but not as much as a bag of similar phosphor (activated zinc sulphide) shown here.
“Continue reading” for radioactive counts, more details and links…

Continue reading →

Alpha Radiation

Leave a reply

Geiger counter reading 80180 CPM with Americium sample from alpha radiation

Radioactive americium 241 from a smoke detector is a potent alpha radiation emitter with an energy of 5.38 MeV. Alpha particles are helium nucleii (2 protons and 2 neutrons).
“Continue reading” for radiation counts, sources and shielding effects.
Continue reading →

Gamma Radiation

Leave a reply

Geiger Counterwith Gamma radiation 108,000 CPM

Uranium ore (Yellowcake) emits gamma radiation. The Geiger counter reads 108,000 CPM through the plastic of the container.
“Continue reading” for Geiger readings of other gamma emitters plus links…

Continue reading →

Tritium

Leave a reply

Tritium tubesTritium tubes have radioactive tritium gas and a phosphor which glows constantly. Tritium is hydrogen with two neutrons.  It is radioactive with a half life of 12.3 years.
“Continue reading” for radiation count and information about beta radiation from tritium plus links.
Continue reading →

LED Light Patterns

Leave a reply

Looking like a circular slinky.

A complicated LED Light Patterns generated from a long exposure of a LED array.
“Continue reading” for more details and photos. Continue reading →