What does a gauge consist of?

A gauge typically consists of a radiation source and a detector. In the context of nuclear gauges, the radiation source emits radiation that interacts with the material being measured. The detector then captures and measures this radiation, allowing for the determination of various properties such as density, moisture content, or thickness of materials.

This design is fundamental because the interaction between the emitted radiation and the material provides the necessary data on the characteristics being assessed. The combination of a radiation source and a detector makes it possible to obtain quantitative measurements, which is the primary function of a nuclear gauge.