no it was not
yes for the navy
Alpha radiation is emitted from the amercium button in a smoke detector. When smoke goes into the smoke detector it blocks the stream of alpha particles emitted from the americium. That triggers an alarm.
Americium-241 is used in smoke detectors because it emits alpha particles that ionize the air inside the detector. This ionization process allows a small electric current to flow between two electrodes in the detector. When smoke enters the detector, it disrupts this current, triggering the alarm.
They were basically designed to help people up in the first space American space station (skylab) detect toxic smokes and gases up in space. Since you can't really run anywhere in space, you had to be alerted as soon as possible.
In the smoke detector, the fast - moving alpha particles enable the air to conduct an electric current. As long as the electric current is flowing, the smoke detector is silent. The alarm is triggered when the flow of electric current is interrupted by smoke entering the detector.
It's used in smoke detectors. It ionizes the air in the detector, and the electrons displaced by the ionization flow between two plates. Smoke disrupts this flow, the detector sees the change in current as proof of a fire and sounds the alarm.
The battery in a smoke detector should last a year (though the detector should be checked monthly). The detector works on "trickle" current that is always there. NiCads will lose more current than an alkaline battery from just sitting around - much more. Even a fully charged NiCad will usually not last a year in a smoke detector. Alkaline batteries will easily.
Americium-241 this is an emitter of alpha radiation, which is used in smoke detectors as it is very ionising and will not be able to travel through smoke. Therefore, in a fire the detector will not receive any alpha radiation and hence the alarm will go off.
The actinide used in some smoke detectors is americium-241. It emits alpha particles, which ionize the air inside the detector, causing a small electric current to flow. When smoke enters the detector, it disrupts this current, triggering the alarm.
Americium has been used in smoke detectors since the 1950s. Its radioactive properties make it ideal for ionizing smoke particles in the detector, allowing it to quickly detect smoke and trigger the alarm.
There are two types of smoke detectors:Photoelectric Smoke detectorsIonizing Smoke DetectorsIonization smoke detectors are more commonly used. The smoke detector uses an ionization chamber and a source of ionizing radiation to detect smoke.Alpha particles are emitted from from the chamber, which ionize the air, so that the air conducts electricity and a small current flows.If smoke enters the alarm, it absorbs the alpha particles causing the current to reduce, and the alarm sounds.Generally, smoke detectors use a weak source made of Americium-241 (241Am95).Note: Alpha particles are the nuclei of a Helium Atom (4He2).
The first smoke detector was invented in 1890 and used a simple design with a bent bellows chamber filled with air that would expand when smoke entered. This expansion would trigger a lever mechanism to sound an alarm. It was a basic system with limited effectiveness compared to modern smoke detectors.