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Measuring E/m For Electron

1. The document describes how to experimentally measure the ratio of charge to mass (e/m) for electrons using a cathode ray tube apparatus. It derives the theoretical equation for e/m in terms of the magnetic field B, beam radius r, and accelerating potential V. 2. Helmholtz coils are used to produce a uniform magnetic field along the axis between the coils. The document shows the equation for the magnetic field B in terms of the coil properties. 3. An experiment is outlined where the beam diameter is measured for different magnetic field and accelerating potential values. These are used to calculate e/m and compare to the accepted value.

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Talha Abbas Jalvi
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74 views

Measuring E/m For Electron

1. The document describes how to experimentally measure the ratio of charge to mass (e/m) for electrons using a cathode ray tube apparatus. It derives the theoretical equation for e/m in terms of the magnetic field B, beam radius r, and accelerating potential V. 2. Helmholtz coils are used to produce a uniform magnetic field along the axis between the coils. The document shows the equation for the magnetic field B in terms of the coil properties. 3. An experiment is outlined where the beam diameter is measured for different magnetic field and accelerating potential values. These are used to calculate e/m and compare to the accepted value.

Uploaded by

Talha Abbas Jalvi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Measuring e/m for Electron

1. Derivation of the e/m Equation


a. Since the Lorentz force always acts inward toward the center of the circular path taken by
an electron in a magnetic field, find the equation of e/m in terms of v, r, and B by setting
the centripetal force equal to the Lorentz force and solving the resultant equation for e/m.

b. What is the equation for the kinetic energy of a mass m moving at a speed v?

c. The electrons in an e/m tube are accelerated to a speed v by falling through a potential
difference of V before being shot into the magnetic field. What is the equation for the
potential energy lost by a charge e falling through a potential difference V?

d. Set the potential energy lost by the electron equal to the kinetic energy gained by it as a
result of its acceleration. Then use the equation you derived in part a. to show that e/m is
given by the expression
e 2V
= 2 2
m r B

1
2. Finding e/m Experimentally
The only remaining task is to figure out how to determine the magnitude of the magnetic field
that the beam of electrons moves through. In the typical apparatus used to measure e/m, an
approximately uniform magnetic field is produced by two large current-carrying coils called
Helmholtz coils.

Helmholtz coils to produce a magnetic field.

Starting from the Biot-Savart Law, show that the magnetic field along the axis of a current-
carrying loop is given by

µ0 IR 2
Bloop =
2 ( z 2 + R 2 )3 2

2
For a pair of Helmholtz coils of radius R and spacing R with N turns as shown above, show that
the magnitude of the magnetic field, B, in the region between the two coils is given by

8µ0 NI
B=
125 R

3. Measuring e/m
Warning! Before doing the next activity, please take off your watch or any magnetic jewelry
you might be wearing. Watch the demo video at https://youtu.be/ZDGe4ly8nPA?t=854

a. Make sure all the knobs on the power supply are turned all the way down. Turn on the
power supply and wait for the filament in the tube to glow. Using the 500V knob,
increase the voltage until a green beam is visible in the tube. Turn on the recommended
current through the coils and accelerating potential for the first row of the data table (1 A
and 100 V respectively). Calculate the magnetic field using the expression above, note
there are 130 turns in the coils. A green circle should be visible inside the tube.

3
Coil Currrent (A) Magnetic Field (T) Acc. Potential (V) Beam Diameter (cm) e/m (C/kg)
1.00 100 7.6
1.00 150 9.7
1.00 200 11.0
1.30 200 9.2
1.50 200 7.9

b. In order to use the expression for e/m, the beam diameter, more specifically the radius,
must be known. There is a lighted scale with centimeter divisions in the tube to help with
this. These data have been entered in red in the table above.

c. Look up the accepted values of e and of m in your textbook and calculate an accepted
value of e/m. Note that the accepted values of e and m are also measured values.
However, they represent measurements using the best known techniques and apparatus.

4
Here is a picture of the Helmholtz coils. Ask yourself – which radius should you use? Inner, outer, something in-
between?

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