spinthariscope

American  

[spin-thar-uh-skohp] / spɪnˈθær əˌskoʊp /

noun

1. an instrument that detects ionizing radiation by picking up sparks of light from alpha particles.

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spinthariscope British  

/ spɪnˈθærɪˌskəʊp /

noun

1. a device for observing ionizing radiation, consisting of a tube with a magnifying lens at one end and a phosphorescent screen at the other. A particle hitting the screen produces a scintillation

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Other Word Forms

• spinthariscopic adjective

Etymology

Origin of spinthariscope

First recorded in 1900–1905; formed irregulary from Greek spintharí(s) (inflectional stem spintharíd- ) “spark” + -scope ( def. )

Example Sentences

He had brought a little magnet near the spinthariscope.

From The War Terror by Reeve, Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin)

Sir W. Crookes has invented a curious little apparatus, the spinthariscope, which enables us to examine the phosphorescence of the blende excited by these rays.

From The New Physics and Its Evolution by Poincaré, Lucien

A simple form of apparatus called the spinthariscope has been devised to show these scintillations.

From A Brief Account of Radio-activity by Venable, Francis Preston

Included in the microscopy set Barby had given him was a gadget called a spinthariscope, like a cone of black plastic with the sharp end of the cone sliced off.

From The Blue Ghost Mystery by Goodwin, Harold L. (Harold Leland)

Kennedy, before him, reached down into his pocket and handed him the spinthariscope.

From The War Terror by Reeve, Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin)