J.J.

Thomson, Cathode Rays and the Electron

Introduction Voltage source

Experimenters had noticed that sparks travel

through rarefied (i.e. low pressure) air since the time of
Franklin. The basic setup was to have two metal plates
inside a glass tube. The air was removed from the glass + -
container with a pump. One plate (called the cathode)
was connected to the negative side of an electrical Anode Cathode
supply and the other (called the anode) was connected
to the positive side of the electrical supply. Evacuated glass tube

As pump technology improved, the appearance of the spark within the tube changed. A jumpy
purplish stream replaced the spark, and in the 1830s Faraday noticed that a dark spot opened up in the
beam near the cathode. By 1870, pump technology had
improved considerably and the dark spot had expanded to fill
the entire tube and experimentalists noticed that the glass
glowed where the cathode rays (as they were being called at
that time) hit the glass.
In the last half of the 19th century, scientists did many
experiments with cathode ray tubes and tried to use the
results to determine the nature of cathode rays. In 1879, Sir
William Crookes demonstrated that cathode rays travel in The anode in Crookes tube (shaped like a Maltese cross)
prevents some of the cathode rays from hitting the far end
straight lines by using the tube shown at the right. Crookes of the tube, leaving a shadow. Photo credit:
also demonstrated that magnetic fields could deflect cathode http://members.chello.nl/~h.dijkstra19/page7.html
rays. He found that the properties of cathode rays did not
depend on the metal used to make the cathode and anode. According to Crookes, the current in the tube
consisted of negatively charged gas molecules repelled from the cathode and traveling to the anode.
Heinrich Hertz, a leading German experimentalist, tried to
deflect cathode rays with an electric field, but was not
able to do so. Since he knew that charged particles are
deflected by electric fields, Hertz concluded that cathode
rays were not charged particles, but waves that could be
deflected with magnetic fields.
In 1894, J.J. Thomson, an English physicist,
began a series of experiments that would resolve the
controversy about cathode rays and lead to the discovery
of the first subatomic particle. By constructing a cathode
ray tube with the deflector plates inside the glass tube (at
right), Thomson discovered --in direct contradiction with
Hertz-- that cathode rays could be deflected by an electric
field. Thomsons tube design allowed him to determine
the ratio of the cathode ray particles charge to its mass.
The clever experiment exploits two ideas that were known
about the interaction between electromagnetic fields and charged particles:
J.J. Thomson, Cathode Rays and the Electron
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 A charged particle entering a region where there is a uniform electric field (and no magnetic field)
will follow a parabolic path, much like a ball thrown horizontally off a building. The exact
dimensions of the parabola depend on the mass of the particle, charge of the particle, its speed
when it enters the field and the strength of the electric field.
The speed of a charged particle can be measured indirectly by perfectly balancing the electric force
against the magnetic force so that the charged particle goes in a straight line.
Thomson described his work as follows, Cathode rays, Philosophical magazine, 44 (1897), 293-316:
As the cathode rays carry a charge of negative electricity, they are deflected by an electrostatic force as if
they were negatively electrified, and are acted on by a magnetic force in just the way in which this force
would act on a negatively electrified body moving along the path of these rays, I can see no escape from the
conclusion that they are charges of negative electricity carried by particles of matter. The question next
arises, What are these particles? Are they atoms, or molecules, or matter in a still finer state of subdivision?
To throw some light on this point, I have made a series of measurements of the ratio of the mass of these
particles to the charge carried by it [302].
The value Thomson found for the charge to mass ratio led him to believe that the cathode ray particles
were much less massive than even the lightest known atom:
... on this view we have in the cathode rays matter in a new state, in which the subdivision of matter is carried
very much further than in ordinary gaseous state; a state in which all matter--that is, matter derived form
different sources, such as hydrogen, oxygen, etc.--is one and the same kind; this matter being the substance
from which all the chemical elements are built up [312].
In this lab, you will use a modern version of Thomsons tube to measure the charge to mass ratio for
cathode rays.
Apparatus/Theory
Most of the apparatus is inside
a glass vacuum tube. The
diagram at right shows a side
view of the essential features
inside the tube.
By heating part of the cathode as a electric filament (marked F on the diagram) like a light bulb, the
negatively charged particles can be freed from the metallic structure of the cathode. A voltage applied
between the cathode and anode accelerates these negatively charged particles away from the cathode and
toward the anode. Holes are arranged in the cathode and anode so that a narrow beam of cathode rays
is produced, passing to the right in the diagram above. For our experiment, you will apply about 3000 volts
between the cathode and the anode (recall that normal electrical outlets in the wall provide only 110 volts!).
Once the particles pass through the hole in the anode, they enter a region where you can apply an electric
field and/or a magnetic field. The electric field is created by applying a voltage across two metal plates (the
deflector plates in the diagram above). The strength of the electric field can be calculated if you know the
voltage applied and the distance between the plates:

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where V represents the applied voltage and d is the distance between the deflector plates (d=0.80 cm in
our apparatus). The plates are oriented so that the negatively charged particles experience a downward
electrical force.
The magnetic field is created by a current flowing through two coils of wire (these are called "Helmholtz
coils") placed outside the cathode ray tube. The magnetic field strength, B (measured in tesla = N/ampere
m), at the center of the coils is determined by the amount of current, I (in amperes), flowing through the
coils. If the coils are set up according to the
manufacturers instructions:

The coils are oriented so that the negatively

charged particles experience an upward magnetic
force as they move through the apparatus.
To make the beam visible, a large square of mica
has been set inside the tube. One side of the mica
is coated with a luminescent material that glows
blue when struck by electrons. This makes the
beam path visible, even with the room lights on
(see side view at right). Note also that a pin is
welded to each deflection plate. The purpose of
the pins is to help you measure the deflection of the
beam. (For our apparatus, and ).
You might wonder how the beam can possibly hit the mica sheet and how the pins can block the beam.
The diagram below (a top view of the deflector plates) may help, particularly if you are looking at the
apparatus at the same time you examine the drawing. The beam is shaped like a flat ribbon as it enters
from the left. The mica is laid at an angle to the beam. The mica sheet passes through the gap between the
halves of the deflector plates. Unless the beam is aimed at the pin, some of the beam will pass through the
gap between the halves of the deflector plates.

Making the beam go straight

If there is no electric field or magnetic field, the beam will travel virtually undeflected through the apparatus.
(What does this suggest about the force of gravity acting on the particles?) You can also make the beam go
straight by adjusting the deflector plate voltage and coil current so that the downward electric force is
exactly balanced by the upward magnetic force. If youve had physics before, you might remember that the
J.J. Thomson, Cathode Rays and the Electron
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size of electric force on a charged particle equals the electric field strength times the amount of charge on
the particle:

You might also remember that the size of the magnetic force equals the speed of the particle times its
speed times the strength of the magnetic field1.

If the magnetic force and electric force are exactly equal, the beam goes straight. Setting the two forces
equal, gives the following (somewhat surprising) result:

The upshot of this equation is that you can calculate the speed of the particles without knowing anything
more than the values of E and B when the beam is straight. A note about units: If E is measured in
Volts/meter and B is measured in Tesla, the velocity comes out in meters/sec.
Making the beam hit the pin (with B=0)
If you shut the magnetic field off and apply only an electric field, the beam will follow a parabolic path, much
like a ball thrown horizontally from the top of a building. You can adjust the voltage across the deflector
plates so that the beam hits one of the pins in the apparatus. Doing this will allow you to relate the things
you can measure (the vertical deflection of the beam, the horizontal distance the beam travels before hitting
the pin, deflector plate voltage and coil current) to the quantity you want to determine (in this case, the ratio
of charge to mass: ). The technique would be analogous to changing the strength of gravity (if that
were possible) while launching balls horizontally from the roof at a certain speed until the balls hit a target
marked on the ground.
Just like the ball thrown from the roof, the charged particles in the electric field of our apparatus experience
a constant downward force. Since the only (significant) force involved is the electric force, Newtons second
law can be used to relate the acceleration to electrical quantities:

or, combining this with ,

As with the ball, the vertical displacement can be related to the acceleration2 using

Initially, this may not seem like a helpful equation. We can measure the vertical displacement y easily
enough. If the beam hits the pin, y equals half of the distance between the plates. However, the time it

1 You might remember a more complex relationship if you took physics before. The coils in this experiment are aligned so that
the magnetic field is horizontal and perpendicular to the beam path. This arrangement makes the magnetic force on the beam
point straight up and simplifies the math.
2 This works because the initial vertical velocity of the ball (or charge) is zero.
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takes the charged particle to fall that distance is not something we know or care to know. However, it is
easy to remove the time from the equation above by noticing that it is related to the horizontal distance x
traveled by the particle3: , or, equivalently

Combining these equations to eliminate variables that cant be measured directly (like a and t), you get

.
Rearrange the equation and you have an expression for the charge to mass ratio:

If the velocity of the particles is the same as when you made the beam straight (which it should be, unless
youve changed the cathode/anode voltage), you can use the equation above to calculate the charge to
mass ratio. If all the distances are in meters, the speed in meters/sec and E in Volts/meter, the charge to
mass ratio will be in Coulombs/kg.

Getting started

Safety first!
This experiment involves high voltages and delicate, expensive equipment.
If you have any doubt about a procedure, consult your instructor!
If anything seems unsafe to you, consult your instructor!

Before turning anything on:

Make sure the apparatus is correctly wired.
Make sure all power supply knobs are turned all the way down (completely counterclockwise).
Check alignment of the apparatus. Vacuum tube should be properly seated in its socket. The
deflector plates should be parallel with the base of the apparatus. The Helmholtz coils should
be aligned so that they are symmetrical about the center of the vacuum tube and are the
correct distance from the center of the vacuum tube. See Appendix for details.
Getting started with the apparatus:
Turn on the Digiramp power supply. This will provide a current to heat up the filament. After
about 30 seconds, you should notice a glow from the back of the Thomson tube as the filament
heats up, but there will not be a beam yet. In order to produce a beam you will need to

3 You might wonder how you can use the distance = speed times time equation even though there is an acceleration. Since the
force is vertical, the horizontal component of the charges velocity does not change. It moves equal horizontal distances in equal
amounts of time.
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 increase the potential between the cathode and anode to about 2kV. See Appendix A (or
consult your TA) for details on how to do this with the DigiRamp power supply.
Once you have set the cathode/anode potential, you should leave it unchanged throughout
the experiment. (Changing the anode/cathode voltage will change the velocity of the cathode
rays).
Observation experiments:
How does an electric field affect a cathode ray?
Apply an electric field to the region in between the deflector plates. Record your observations.
Some things to consider:
Is there still a coherent beam?
How does applying the field change the beam? What effect does increasing the field have
on the beam?

How does a magnetic field affect a cathode ray?

Turn off the electric field and apply a magnetic field to the region in between the deflector plates.
Record your observations. (Consider the same questions as for the E-field).

Interpret the results: Once you have completed the observation experiments, answer the following
questions, based solely on your observations above:
Is it likely that cathode rays are made of identical particles? Explain how your observations support
your position.
Is it likely that cathode rays have a wide spread of speeds as they leave the anode and enter the
region between the deflector plates? Explain how your observations support your position.

Discuss your findings with an instructor before continuing.

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Application experiments:
A. Figuring out the speed of the particles in the beam
The apparatus described in this handout can be used to indirectly measure the speed of the
cathode ray particles. Devise a way to determine the speed of cathode rays using this apparatus.
For your method:
1. Describe the procedure you will use.
2. Construct the mathematical procedure you will use to analyze the data.
3. List the assumptions you have made in your design.

Check your procedure with an instructor before continuing.

4. Perform your experiment. Make sure you take steps to minimize uncertainty. Take steps to
insure that assumptions made in the design are met.
5. Calculate the speed of the cathode rays in your apparatus based on your measurements
and calculations.
After you have done the experiment,
6. Compare your results with a group nearby. Do they get the same results as you? Should
they? Explain.
7. Compare the results with the speed of light.

B. Figuring out the charge to mass ratio of the particles in the beam
Devise a way to determine the charge to mass ratio of the particles in the cathode ray beam using
this apparatus. For your method:
1. Describe the procedure you will use.
2. Construct the mathematical procedure you will use to analyze the data.
3. List the assumptions you have made in your design.

Check your procedure with an instructor before continuing.

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 4. Perform your experiment. Make sure you take steps to minimize uncertainty. Take steps to
insure that assumptions made in the design are met.
5. Calculate the charge to mass ratio of the cathode rays in your apparatus based on your
measurements and calculations.
After you have done the experiment,
6. Trade places with a group nearby and redo the experiment using their apparatus.
Compare results. Do you get the same results as they did?
7. Compare the results from your original apparatus to the results from their apparatus. Some
questions to consider:
Do the two apparatuses have the same value for speed of the cathode rays? Should
they? If the results are substantially different, figure what difference in the equipment
settings accounts for the difference.
Do the two apparatuses have the same value for charge to mass ratio? Should they? If
the results are substantially different, figure what difference in the equipment settings
accounts for the difference.
8. Compare the results for charge to mass ratio with the modern textbook value.

Safety first (and last)!

Turn knobs on all power supplies to zero. (Dont leave nasty surprises for the next user).
Turn all power supplies off.
Shut off all meters.

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Wiring Diagram (FYI for TAs only! Students should not need to wire/rewire anything!)
The following diagram shows how the power supplies for the vacuum tube should be set up. (Note: This
figure is taken from an old lab handout; in 2005, PASCO (rather than a Heathkit) power supply controls the
plate voltage.
The circuit for the Helmholtz coils is shown at right. A GoldStar power supply controls the current through
the coils. The GoldStar's internal ammeter is not very accurate, so a more accurate ammeter is placed in
series with the coils.
A single power supply (Kilovolt DigiRamp) provides both
the current (a few amps at 6V) for the filament and the
high voltage (~2kV) that is maintained between the
cathode and the anode. The power supply for the filament
is connected across pins 3 and 5 on the vacuum tube. The
high voltage (several kilovolts) between the cathode and
anode is applied across pins 1 and 5.
A different power supply controls the strength of the
electric field used to deflect the cathode rays. The power
supply is connected across pins 1 and 7. A multimeter
connected in parallel with the deflector plate power supply
provides more accurate readings than the power supplys
internal meter.

For convenience, a diagram of the innards of the glass vacuum tube is reproduced here.

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Appendix A: Digiramp power supply:
The DigiRamp power supply is two power supplies in one. One controls the voltage across the filament
(and therefore the current through the filament). This first supply is low voltage, but can deliver a few amps
of current. The second controls the voltage difference between cathode and anode.
The power switch is on the rear panel of the DigiRamp. The unit has a single knob and a single display.
The blue switches select which function the knob has and consequently which quantity is displayed on the
LED readout. Pressing the button marked CT meter sets the knob to control the low voltage output (the
filament voltage in this experiment) and the display to show the corresponding. Pressing the button just to
the right of the CT meter button selects the high voltage output circuit. The knob now controls the high
voltage output (the anode/cathode voltage in this experiment) and the meter reads the high voltage. You
should notice the kV indicator light up when you press this button (to reflect that the reading is in
kilovolts).
Appendix B: Helmholtz coils alignment details

If the coils are aligned in this manner, the magnetic field at the center due to the coils is given by
.

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