building a simple kfm radiation meter.pdf

7/28/2019 Building a simple KFM Radiation Meter.pdf

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Building a simple KFM Radiation MeterThese are attempts to create Japanese language templates for building KFM radiation meters as described at:

http://www.ornl.gov/~webworks/cppr/y2001/rpt/112538.pdf

The patterns which follow have been created to the original dimensions in the report, but a metric size check block has been added asJapanese students may not have rulers measuring in inches available.

The adaption here is strictly non-commercial, parent/student-based effort. Weve built KFM meters as a science project with a mixed group of

high school/middle school/ elementary school students and have found it to be a fascinating exercise in basic science. (you measure

temperature with a thermometer, you measure air pressure with a barometer, what do you measure radiation with?... Most students

answer geiger counter and are fascinated to find out that something as simple as a tin can and a couple pieces of foil can measure

radiation as well. )

The students are now putting together a how to build a radiation meter video for students in other countries for whom the English language

directions at the government site may be too complicated (seeing something done is worth a thousand words)Video is at:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0ByoWete4B3xtYmI3ZmUwYmEtZjM2ZS00MjkzLWJlNGQtZWU3NTczZDVmMWZl&hl=en&authkey=CPzd3Bk

The thought was this would be particularly useful for families in Japan, after the recent disasters. Radiation can be very frightening since you can

not see or feel it but it can hurt you anyway. Having a measurement device that can be easily built at home means being able to reassure

oneself what the actual measurements in the area are- and to know if theyre not what they should be... (to put it another way I really

like and trust our local weatherman, but I also look at the sky and read the thermometer before attempting a drive out on a potentially

icy winter night, even if its not really supposed to be freezing)

A local mom has very graciously volunteered to help provide a Japanese narration for the video, but we also wanted to have the paper patterns

available to non English speakers so folks watching the video could download patterns to make their own KFMs.

This is still a work in progress. A this point, the diagrams have been drawn to match the original templates, and the labels have been run through

a free web translator to get Japanese equivalents. We would REALLY ,REALLY appreciate any help folks reading these templates could

provide to improve the translations. Im sure theres lots of room for improvement and we really want to get this done correctly.

Also the ability to build radiation meters and the science behind them may be of interest to students in other non English speaking countries

as well (China? Korea? Germany?) If you live in one of those countries and would be able to provide a translation for students in your

area, that would be really great! We would also be interested in folks who could provide narrations for the build video in their own

language we created the video in Microsoft Movie Maker so the narration tool could be used to change out the language used.

Thank you much!


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Rulerrest

tapedsecurely

.

TOP OF CAN (BELOW rim)

Fasten threads holding aluminum leaves here

Pen top or eraser (for ruler rest)

Holes for stop-thread

Bottom of can (above rim)

Center Line Sideseamofcan

Cutalongline

Cutalongline

Sideseamofcan

Holesshouldbe

4.5cmbelowtop

Hole

For

Stop-

thread

Hole

For

Stop-

thread

Do not use this template unless this

block measures

Exactly 8 cm across

Centerline

m

S

i

e

v

e

r

ts/

)

K

FM

8

TOP OF CAN (below rim)

Pen top or eraser (for ruler rest)

seat

Holes for stop-thread Cutalongline

Cutalongline

Sideseamofcan Holesshouldbe

4.5cmbelowtop

Hole

ForStop-

thread

Hole

ForStop-

thread

Do not use this template unless this

block measures

Exactly 8 cm across

Centerlin

e

Table used to find dose rates (mSieverts/hr)

from KFM readings

*difference between the readings before exposure

And the reading after exposure (8-ply standard foil leaves)

Paper pattern to wrap around KFM can (glue or tape securely to can)

Cut out these patterns, each of which is the exact size for a KFM

Caution: patterns will only work if template block is correct size

Pattern Page (A)

K

F

M


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Do not use unless this box measuresexactly 8 cm


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K F M


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Donotuseunlessthisboxmeasures

exactly8

cm


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Do not use unless this box measures

exactly 8 cm

building a simple kfm radiation meter.pdf

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