ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Gamma-ray spectrometer

Imagine that you have a special tool that helps you see inside rocks and tell you about the different elements that are present. This tool is called a gamma-ray spectrometer.

Gamma rays are tiny particles that come from radioactive elements inside the rock. They are too small for our eyes to see, but the gamma-ray spectrometer can detect them. When the gamma rays hit the spectrometer, it tells us what kind of element they came from and how much of that element is present in the rock.

Think of it like a superhero with a superpower to detect and identify different substances. Just like how Superman's x-ray vision can see through walls and spot danger, a gamma-ray spectrometer can look inside rocks and tell us what they're made of.

Scientists use gamma-ray spectrometers to study rocks on Earth, other planets, and even asteroids. It helps them learn about the elements and minerals that make up these places, which can lead to discoveries about the history and composition of the universe.
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