Class XII/Physics

Production of cathode rays

When a potential difference of 10-15 kV is applied across the two electrodes of a discharge tube and the pressure is
reduced to 0.01mm of mercury, the luminous rays known as cathode rays are emitted form the cathode.
Cathode rays were first discovered by Plucker, but their systematic
investigations were carried out by William Crookes and J.J Thomson.
In 1897, J J Thomson showed that the stream of particles were
electrons. He conducted the famous discharge tube experiment by
passing electricity at high voltage through a gas at low pressure.

A common discharge tube is a long glass tube having two metal

plates, sealed at its two ends as electrodes. It has a side tube
through which air can be pumped out by using a vacuum pump, so
as to reduce the pressure.
When the pressure of air in the discharge tube is reduced to .001
mm of mercury and a high voltage is applied to the electrodes, the
emission of light by air stops. But the phenomenon of fluorescence
is observed in which the walls of the discharge tube at the end opposite to the cathode begin to glow with a greenish
light. It was deduced that some invisible rays were formed at the cathode, which on striking the glass tube emitted a
green light. Since they are formed at the cathode they are known as cathode rays.

Properties
i) They travel in straight lines. Cathode rays cast shadows of the objects placed in their path.
ii) Cathode rays are shot out normally from the surface of the cathode.
iii) Cathode rays are a beam of particles having mass and possessing kinetic energy. They produce mechanical
effects.
iv) Cathode rays are made up of negatively charged particles. They are deflected by electric field and magnetic field.
Effect of electric field

v) The nature of cathode rays does not depend on the nature of gas taken in the discharge tube or material of the
cathode.
vi) Cathode rays produce heat when they fall on matter.
vii) Cathode rays produce X-rays.
viii) They ionize the gas through which they pass.
ix) They can excite fluorescence.
x) They can produce chemical changes.
xi) They are found to have velocity upto one tenth of the velocity of light.
Specific Charge of electron (charge-to-mass ratio of the electron) by J.J. Thompson
Thomson determined the charge to mass ratio or specific charge (e/m) of electron by applying electric and magnetic
fields to a narrow beam of cathode rays.

Principle: The experiment is based upon the principle that- The electrons can be deflected by electric and magnetic
fields.

Theory: The magnetic field is switched on. Let B

be the strength of the magnetic field, ‘e’ – charge
on an electron and ‘v’ the velocity with which
electron enters the electric or the magnetic field.
The force on the electron due to the magnetic
field,
Fm = Bev
The force acts on the electron in vertically
downward direction.
Now, the electric field is also switched on. It exerts
a force on the electron in the upward direction.
The strength of the electric field is so adjusted
that the electron spot remains at S. Let E be the
strength of the electric field. Then, force on
electron due to the electric field, Fe = Ee
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 Class XII/Physics
As the electron spot remains undeflected at S, the force on the electron due to the two fields are equal and opposite.
That is,
Fm = Fe
Bev = eE
E
v= ----------- (1)
B
As the electron moves from cathode to anode, its potential energy at the cathode appears as its kinetic energy at anode.
If ‘V’ is the potential difference between anode and the cathode, then-
Potential energy of electron at the cathode= eV

Kinetic energy of electron at the anode = 1 mv

2
2
By law of conservation of energy, 1 m v = eV2
2
2eV
or, v= ----------- (2)
m
From equations (1) and (2), we have-
2eV E
=
m B
2eV E2
Squaring both the sides of above equation, = 2
m B
2
e E
⇒ = ------------------ (3)
m 2VB 2
e
Measuring the value of B, and knowing the value of V, can be determined. The value of as determined by J.J Thomson
m
is 1,77 x 108Cg-1.

CATHODE RAY OSCILLOSCOPE (C.R.O)

It is an instrument which is used to see the waveforms of oscillating voltage and currents. It is based upon the principle
that the electrons can be deflected by electric and magnetic fields.

The electron gun is used to produce a narrow beam of electrons. It is used to heat up the cathode. Heated cathode emits
electrons through the process of thermionic emissions. The more negative the grid, the fewer the electrons are emitted
from the electron gun and the less the brightness of the bright spot on the screen. The electron gun focuses the electrons
into a beam and accelerates the electron beam towards the screen.
The deflection system allows the electron beam to be deflected from its straight-line path when it leaves the electron
gun. Y-plates are to move the electron beam vertically up and down the screen when an input voltage is applied across
it. The function of the X-plates is to sweep the electron beam across the screen horizontally from left to right at a steady
speed.
The fluorescent screen is coated on the inside surface with some fluorescent material such as phosphor or zinc sulfide.
When electron beam strikes the screen, the material becomes glows. This enables a bright spot to appear whenever an
electron beam strikes the screen. The moving electrons have kinetic energy. When the electrons strike the screen, the
fluorescent coating on the screen converts the kinetic energy of the electrons into light energy.

Uses:
i) It is used to have visual demonstration of electrical oscillations.
ii) It is used to measure phase angle, power factor, frequency etc of a.c.
iii) It is used in television.
iv) It is used in electrocardiography ( to study the functioning of heart)
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