Which device is used for the detection and measurement of all common types of nuclear radiation such as alpha, beta and gamma radiations?

Introduction / Context:
Radioactive substances emit different kinds of nuclear radiation, mainly alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays. Measuring this radiation is important in nuclear physics, medical imaging, radiation safety and environmental monitoring. Several instruments exist for measuring various physical quantities, but only some are designed to detect ionising radiation. This question asks you to identify the device commonly used to detect and count alpha, beta and gamma radiations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We want a device that can detect nuclear radiation types such as alpha, beta and gamma.
• The instrument should provide counts or intensity of radiation.
• Other listed instruments measure different physical properties, not nuclear radiation intensity.
• We assume a basic level of knowledge of laboratory instruments.

Concept / Approach:
The Geiger counter, more fully called the Geiger Muller counter, is a widely used device for detecting ionising radiation. It contains a Geiger tube filled with gas and electrodes. When radiation enters the tube, it ionises the gas, causing a momentary current pulse that can be counted. By counting pulses per second, the Geiger counter measures the intensity of radiation. A polarimeter is used to measure optical rotation of plane polarised light in optically active substances. A calorimeter measures heat changes in physical and chemical processes. A radiometer typically measures radiant energy or light intensity but is not used to count nuclear particles in the way a Geiger counter does. Therefore, the Geiger counter is the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that alpha, beta and gamma radiation are all forms of ionising radiation emitted by radioactive sources.Step 2: Recall that the Geiger counter is specifically designed to detect ionising radiation using gas ionisation.Step 3: Note that the Geiger counter can detect many different types of ionising radiation, including alpha (with suitable window), beta and gamma.Step 4: Recognise that a polarimeter is used in chemistry labs to study optically active solutions, not nuclear radiation.Step 5: Recognise that a calorimeter is used to measure heat and energy changes, for example in combustion or dissolution experiments.Step 6: Recognise that a radiometer usually measures light or radiant flux and is not the standard tool for detecting alpha or beta particles.Step 7: Conclude that the instrument used for detection and measurement of alpha, beta and gamma radiation is the Geiger counter.

Verification / Alternative check:
In many images of nuclear laboratories or safety inspections, personnel carry handheld Geiger counters, which make clicks when they detect radiation. Textbooks on nuclear physics and radiation safety list Geiger Muller counters as basic detection instruments alongside scintillation counters and ionisation chambers. These texts explain that with proper calibration and shielding, a Geiger counter responds to various types of radiation and is used for survey work. The other devices listed are not described in nuclear radiation contexts, confirming that Geiger counter is the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A polarimeter measures the angle of rotation of plane polarised light, helping to determine concentration or purity of optically active compounds, not radiation. A calorimeter measures heat energy gained or lost by a system, not nuclear particle counts. A radiometer can measure radiant energy of light or electromagnetic waves in some ranges, but it is not a standard detector for alpha and beta particles and is not used like a Geiger counter for radiation protection.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse radiometer and Geiger counter because radiometer sounds like it should measure radiation. However, in common laboratory usage, radiometers relate to light and radiant energy, while Geiger counters relate to nuclear radiation. Another mistake is to choose calorimeter because nuclear processes involve energy, but a calorimeter measures heat in chemical or physical changes, not radioactive emissions directly. Always connect alpha, beta and gamma detection with Geiger Muller counters in basic questions.

Final Answer:
The device used to detect and measure alpha, beta and gamma radiations is the Geiger counter.