A radon monitor records counts in

PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Scientific Practice & Experimental Methods · Uncertainty in measurement · Uncertainty in measurement

Measurement and Method, Ch Counting experiments: Poisson statistics and the root-n rule

Problem

A radon monitor records n=3n = 3 counts in t=5 st = 5\ \mathrm{s}. For an observed count of 33, the tabulated 68 %68\ \% interval on the true mean count is 1.371.37 to 5.925.92 counts (this is not the naive 3±33 \pm \sqrt 3 interval). ((a)) State why the naive interval 3±33 \pm \sqrt{3} counts should not be reported here. ((b)) Use the tabulated interval to give the count rate as an interval, rather than as a symmetric R±u(R)R \pm u(R).

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