Last Updated:
The Geiger-Muller counter is the most widely known instrument for detecting radioactive radiation. Option B is correct: The Geiger-Muller (GM) counter, invented by Hans Geiger and Walther Müller in 1928, detects ionizing radiation including alpha, beta, and gamma particles. It works on the principle of gas ionization: radiation entering the tube ionizes the gas inside, producing an electrical pulse that is counted. It is used in nuclear physics labs, hospitals, and for monitoring radiation in nuclear power plants. Option A is incorrect: A cyclotron is a particle accelerator, not a radiation detector. Option C is incorrect: A spectrometer is used to analyze the spectrum of light or radiation; it separates radiation by wavelength or energy, but it is not primarily used for counting radioactive particles. Option D is incorrect: An oscilloscope is an electronic instrument that displays electrical waveforms on a screen. It is used in electronics for measuring voltage signals, not for detecting radioactive radiation.
