Atomic Bomb Ring
Back in 1947, kids could get an "atomic bomb ring" by sending in a boxtop of Kix cereal plus 15 cents. The ring allowed them to observe flashes of light caused by polonium alpha particles striking a zinc sulfide screen. Although one had to be in a fully dark room, with dark-adapted eyes, to see the effect. That's actually a pretty cool toy for a cereal promotion.
I think the ring may have been similar in principle to the cheap geigerscopes that used to be sold to let people search for uranium in their backyards (see previous post).
I think the ring may have been similar in principle to the cheap geigerscopes that used to be sold to let people search for uranium in their backyards (see previous post).
San Francisco Examiner - Feb 9, 1947
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image source: orau.org
Comments
Was the polonium dangerous in any way?
Posted by Brian on 11/22/24 at 05:05 AM
Brian,
This would almost certainly have been 210-Po. As they say an alpha emitter. Unless you get an internal dose (ingestion, inhalation, injection, or absorption) it wouldn't amount to a truly harmful emitter. Ensuring that in a kid's toy would be practically impossible. Anything like this today would be unthinkable.
For the purpose given, the amount would probably be measured in milligrams. The half-life of this isotope is ~138 days: it would have decayed to practically nothing in a few years.
This would almost certainly have been 210-Po. As they say an alpha emitter. Unless you get an internal dose (ingestion, inhalation, injection, or absorption) it wouldn't amount to a truly harmful emitter. Ensuring that in a kid's toy would be practically impossible. Anything like this today would be unthinkable.
For the purpose given, the amount would probably be measured in milligrams. The half-life of this isotope is ~138 days: it would have decayed to practically nothing in a few years.
Posted by crc on 11/22/24 at 09:30 AM
Category: Toys | Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters | 1940s