1

Cathode Rays
• They are streams of high velocity electrons emitted from
the surface of a metal when a cathode (negative electrode)
is heated inside a vacuum tube by thermionic emission.
• Thermionic emission is the process of emitting electrons
fro a metal surface due to heat energy.
• Production of cathode rays

2
 Cathode Rays
In a cathode ray tube electrons produced at the cathode by
thermionic emission are accelerated towards fluorescent
screen by an anode of an extra high tension (EHT) source.
The tube is evacuated so that the emitted electrons do not
collide with air molecules which would ionize them making
them lose kinetic energy.

vacuu
m

3
 Properties of Cathode Rays
They travel in a straight line in absence of
magnetic or electric fields. Hence form sharp
shadows of objects put on their way.
Cathode rays cause fluorescence in some
substances e.g. zinc sulphide (phosphor).
 They possess kinetic energy. The kinetic energy of
the emitted electrons is converted into light energy
by a process called fluorescence on the screen.
They can produce X-rays when stopped by a metal.
Cathode rays slightly ionise gases.
They are negatively charged. They are affected by
both magnetic and electric fields.
4
Effect of magnetic and electric field on cathode rays
They are deflected by both electric and magnetic fields.
The path of cathode rays in a magnetic field is a curve.
Magnetic field Electric field

The direction of the deflection is found using The cathode rays are deflected
the flemings left hand rule. The direction of the away from the negative plate
conventional current is taken to be in the towards the positive plate.
opposite direction of the cathode rays.
5
 Cathode Ray Oscilloscope
The grid controls the
number of electrons
reaching the screen
and hence controls
brightness of the spot

Cathode produces
electrons by
thermionic
Emission

The tube is evacuated to

prevent to the electrons from The graphite coating conducts the electrons to the
colliding with air particles ground after they hit the screen
which may slow them
Uses of CRO
• It is used as a voltmeter
• Determining the frequency of an ac signal
The X and Y- plates deflects the
Advantages
beam horizontally and vertically • CRO has infinite resistance
respectively • CRO measures Both A.C and D.C voltages 6
6
 Time Base Circuit
Time base is a special circuit that supplies a varying
voltage to a the X- plates. The voltage increases uniformly
to a maximum and the drops suddenly to zero. This cause
the spot to move to and from horizontally on the screen.

The speed at which the spot moves on

the screen is controlled by adjusting
the time base control on the
Oscilloscope.
7
 Time Base effect on the spot
When the time base is off, the spot is stationary and if
the time base is switched on it moves horizontally. If the
time base increases it is seen as just a horizontal line.

Time Base off Time Base on

8
 Time Base effect a.c signal
When an a.c voltage is applied to the input (y-plates) of the
cathode ray oscilloscope.

Time Base off Time Base on

9
 Uses of CRO
• It is used as a voltmeter.
𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 = 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 × 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒕𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏
Volts per division is also known as y-gain
Advantages of CRO over voltmeter
 Can measure large voltages without being destroyed.
 Measure voltages of both a.c and d.c voltages
 It responds instantaneously unlike ordinary meter
whose pointer is affected by inertia.
 It has extremely high resistance and does not therefore
alter current or voltage in the circuit to which it is
connected.
• It is used to find the frequency of alternating voltages.
10
Example
Figure 7.17 shows the trace on the screen of an a.c signal connected to the Y-
plates of a CRO with time base on.
Given that the time bases control is 5 ms/div and the Y-gain is at 100 V/div,
determine the;
(a) Frequency of the a.c. signal
(b) Peak voltage of the input signal.
Solution
(a) Time base control = 5 ms/div
Number of divisions covered = 8
Total time = 8 x 5
= 40 ms
Total number of cycles = 2
𝟒𝟎
Time per cycle (periodic time T) = 𝟐
= 20 ms
𝟏
Frequency = = 50 Hz
𝟐𝟎 𝐱 𝟏𝟎−𝟑
(b) Y-gain = 100 V/dic
Deflection = 3 div from zero level
Peak voltage = Y-gain x number of divisions
= 100 x 3
= 300 V
11
 CRO & Television tube compared

 In TV tube magnetic coils (fields) are preferred to electric fields

because they provide wider deflection to light a wider screen.
 In a colour TV tube 3 electron guns are used each producing
one primary colour (red, blue and green) and screen is coated
with different chemicals to produce the colours.

12
1. State TWO properties of cathode rays.
2. State one property that shows cathode rays have both wave and particulate
nature.
3. State two uses of the CRO.
4. Distinguish between a photon and a quantum.
5. Name a suitable substance for coating inside the screen
6. Explain why the cathode of a CRO is coated with oxides of metals such as
barium and strontium.
7. State the two functions of anode in the C.R.O
8. State the function of the grid in a cathode ray tube (CRT)
9. State one similarity and one difference between cathode rays and x – rays
10. Give the similarities and differences between cathode rays and light.
11. Give two uses of a C.R.O
12. State two advantages of a C.R.O as a voltmeter
13. State two differences between the cathode ray tube (CRT) of a T.V and the
cathode ray oscilloscope (CRO)
14. A Television tube is a cathode ray tube modified. State two modifications.
13
15. State the functions of the following parts of a C.R.O.
– Grid
– X – plates
– Fluorescent screen
16. Give a reason why a colour T.V consumes more energy than a black and
white TV.
17. State the importance of the magnetic coils in a television tube
18. In a television set, magnetic fields are preferred for use as deflection system
instead of electric fields. Explain.
19. State and explain why TV tube has a wider screen than cathode Rays
oscilloscope (C.R.O) tube
20. State why in a television set magnetic fields are used for the deflection
system.
21. State one difference between a cathode ray tube (CRT) of a TV and that of
a CRO.
22. A photon has an energy of 5x10-19J. Calculate the wavelength associated
with this photon.

14