Smoke detector
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A smoke detector is a device that senses smoke, typically as an indicator of fire. Smoke detectors/alarms are usually housed in plastic enclosures, typically shaped like a disk about 125 millimetres i
Smoke detector mounted on a ceiling
Optical smoke detector with the cover removed; the angled plastic in an arc across the top is a light baffle
Inside a basic ionization smoke detector. The black, round structure at the right is the ionization chamber. The white, round structure at the upper left is the piezoelectric horn that produces the alarm sound.
An americium container from a smoke detector
Americium-241
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Americium-241 is an isotope of americium. Like all isotopes of americium, it is radioactive, with a half-life of 432.6 years. 241Am is the most common isotope of americium as well as the most prevalen
Smoke detector
…source and photoelectric sensor and type of smoke chamber differ between manufacturers. An ionization smoke detector uses a radioisotope, typically americium-241, to ionize air; a difference due to smoke is detected and an alarm is generated. Ionization detectors are more sensitive to the flaming stage of fires…
Small button containing 241AmO2 from a smoke alarm