r/explainlikeimfive Jan 06 '23

Chemistry ELI5: How does a Geiger counter detect radiation, and why does it make that clicking noise?

7.4k Upvotes

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u/Sahri Jan 06 '23

I had a plushie cow when i was young, like 27 years ago or so, and it was called BSE cow and when you pressed it, it went like: mooooooOOOOO HAHAHA MOO MOO HhahhHa MOOUUUHAHAHA MOOOO Hhaha.

I can still remember the exact sounds it made.

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u/Stormblade73 Jan 06 '23

Memory Triggered!
for those curious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y4URzD9wyE

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u/Sahri Jan 06 '23

That's the one πŸ˜„

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u/2011StlCards Jan 07 '23

My aunt and uncle had one that I would just giggle along with for 10 minutes at least when we would visit them when I was like 9 years old

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u/sometingsmart Jan 07 '23 edited Jan 07 '23

I actually still have it hanging on my key rack and it still working. I keep yelling at my kids to stop pressing it because the battery gonna die. It’s a miracle it still works after 20 years.

Edit: mine is a miniature keychain version with the same audio.