• Outline Thomson’s experiment to measure the charge/mass ratio of an electron

Thomson assumed that the cathode rays consisted of negatively charged particles.

Aim: To determine charge-mass ratio of the cathode ray particles.

Method:

1. Thomson applied both magnetic field (provided by a current carrying coil) and electric field
(provided by parallel charged plates) such that the cathode rays could pass through undeflected.
Mathematically,
FE = FB
Eq = qvB
v = E/B (We can sub in E=V/d  v = V/dB)
This allowed the velocity of the cathode ray particles to be determined, since E and B are known.

– Thomson found that cathode rays moved much slower than light
– Proved beyond any doubt that cathode rays are not a form of EM radiation

2. Thomson removed the electric field and applied only the magnetic field on the cathode ray. The
cathode ray deflected under the influence of the magnetic field. By careful observation and
measurement, he could measure the radius of curvature of the cathode ray particles.
a. The deflection from the spot which the cathode ray would strike was measured
b. Using the geometry of the apparatus, r was calculated.
The magnetic field exerts a centripetal force on the beam causing it to deflect. Because of this
phenomenon we can treat the magnetic force as an equivalent to the ray’s centripetal force.

Mathematically, FB = Fc

qvB = mv2/r

q/m = v/rB (We can sub in v = V/dB)

Since v, B and r are known, (are measurable quantities) the q/m ratio can be determined.

– Thomson found that the q/m ratio were constant regardless of the cathode material used.
– The constant q/m ratio confirms the particle nature of cathode rays.
– The q/m ratio for cathode rays was 1800 times greater than that of a hydrogen ion. (q/m =
1.76 x 1011 C/kg)

This was interpreted as:

– Atoms were made of smaller elementary particles: being the components of the cathode rays
ie electrons
– q/m ratio of electron = 1800 x q/m ratio of hydrogen ion
○ charge of an electron is much greater than the charge of a hydrogen ion
○ mass of the electron is much smaller than the hydrogen ion

• Perform an investigation to demonstrate and identify properties of cathode rays using

discharge tubes: containing a Maltese cross, containing electric plates, with a
fluorescent display screen, containing a glass wheel, and analyse the information
gathered to determine the sign of the charge on the cathode rays

Aim: To determine some of the properties of the rays which come from the cathode of a discharge tube.

Hypothesis: The properties of a cathode ray indicate it is a stream of negatively charged particles

Risk assessment:

Equipment Risk Precaution

Induction High voltage Avoid touching the induction coil when it is switched on
 coil electricity Switch off all power supplies while the experiment is
being set up (turn power on afterwards)
Discharge X Ray radiation Minimise operating voltage to lessen the energy of the
tube X-rays and make it significantly safer
Keep a fair distance away from the discharge tube when
it is switched on
Switch on discharge tube for short periods of time to
make an observation
Glass ware Handle with care

Method:

1. The power pack was connected to the induction coil and set to 6V DC using connecting wires in a
series circuit.
2. The discharge tube containing the maltese cross was then connected to the induction coil. The
cathode of the induction coil was connected to the anode of the maltese cross discharge tube
while the anode of the induction coil was connected to the cathode of the discharge tube.
3. When the power supply was switched on to produce a continuous spark from the cathode to the
anode of the induction coil, the cathode ray tube holding the maltese cross was observed at the
end of the tube for the effect of the cathode ray fired at the Maltese cross. These observations
were recorded.
4. The discharge tube containing the maltese cross was then replaced with another discharge tube
and steps 1 to 3 were repeated.

These tubes are:

Type of discharge tube What to observe

CRT containing electric The effect of an electric field on the cathode
plates rays
CRT containing a rotating The effect that the cathode ray has on the
wheel wheel when the tube is horizontal
CRT containing fluorescent The effect of placing a set of magnets
screen around the cathode rays.
Results:

CRO Observations Supports

Maltese A shadow of the maltese cross appeared Light behaviour  travels in a straight
cross on the glass opposite the cathode. line
Fluoresce Cathode ray was deflected and observed Using right hand palm rule  cathode
nt screen to bend in its path ray is negatively charged
 Paddle The paddle wheel turned when it was Cathode rays possess momentum and
Wheel struck by the cathode ray energy
Electric Cathode ray was deflected by the electric Cathode ray is a negatively charged
plates plates towards the positive plate  when particle and is influenced by an
voltage in electric plates were increased, electric field
deflection increased.

What are the properties of cathode rays which can be deduced from this experiment?

– Cathode rays travelled in straight lines  produce a shadow from maltese cross
– Cathode rays are deflected by electric and magnetic fields
– Cathode rays contain momentum (i.e. are able to turn a small paddle wheel placed in its path)
and possess energy
– Cathode rays are negatively charged
– Cathode rays are unable to penetrate thick metals (i.e. maltese cross)
– They are produced by the negative electrode, or cathode, in an evacuated tube, and travel
towards the anode.

Can we conclusively say that cathode rays are electrons? Why or why not?

– Cathode rays are observed to obtain mass (momentum when hitting paddle wheel)
– They are deflected by both electric and magnetic fields and by observing their deflection it is
seen that they are negatively charged
– In the past cathode rays could not be deflected by electric fields due to the lack of technology
available. This was because cathode ray tubes in the past were not completely vacuumed.
Therefore the gas particles in the tube ionised to form gas ions which lined up on the electric
plates inside the tube. This neutralised the electric plates.
– In this experiment, equipment is used with a low gas pressure  allowed for deflection to be
observed

Term Definition Strategies

Accurac For measurement: – Categorising information to integrate
y more detail into the material
 depends on the equipment – Keep variables constant (other than
used
dependant/independent variables)
For a results: – Eliminate systematic errors by careful
planning
 the degree to which the result – Use more sensitive equipment
is to the accept value or
standard value (found in
textbooks)
Reliabili First hand data: For experiments:
ty
 if the experiment was – Take the mean of multiple
repeated to give the same measurements
results – Repeat and compare results
 Consistency in results For collecting data:
Second hand sources:
– Integrate info from many reliable
 the trustworthiness of the sources
source – The reliability of a source can be
assessed by comparing it to several
other sources (reputable).
Validity First hand information and data: – Random errors are reduced by taking
the mean of multiple measurements
 How fairly tested the – All systematic errors should be
hypothesis is
eliminated or occur to the same extent
 All variables are kept constant in each of a series of measurements
apart from those being
– All variables are kept constant
investigated
  All errors are reduced
Second hand information:

 How was the information

gathered
 The degree to which the data
relates to the hypothesis or
problem
Systematic error: a carried on error through a series of measurements ( this error occurs to the
same extent in each measurement) (eg needle on voltmeter is not at zero when there
is no voltage)

Random error: an error due to the variation in measurement technique