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Modern Physics - Slides1 - 2023

This document provides an overview of J.J. Thomson's discovery of the electron through his experiments with cathode rays. 1) Thomson observed that cathode rays could be deflected by electric and magnetic fields, showing they carried a negative charge. 2) In a crossed-field experiment, he measured the charge to mass ratio of cathode rays, finding it was over 1000 times smaller than the hydrogen ion. 3) This led him to conclude cathode rays consisted of a previously unknown subatomic particle, which was later named the electron.

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Sbongakonke Mpendulo
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68 views10 pages

Modern Physics - Slides1 - 2023

This document provides an overview of J.J. Thomson's discovery of the electron through his experiments with cathode rays. 1) Thomson observed that cathode rays could be deflected by electric and magnetic fields, showing they carried a negative charge. 2) In a crossed-field experiment, he measured the charge to mass ratio of cathode rays, finding it was over 1000 times smaller than the hydrogen ion. 3) This led him to conclude cathode rays consisted of a previously unknown subatomic particle, which was later named the electron.

Uploaded by

Sbongakonke Mpendulo
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 PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PHY212-2023/Modern Physics

Shortcomings of Classical Physics

Lecturer: Prof. Sylvain Halindintwali


University of the Western Cape

Slides #1: Introduction to Cathode rays and


the discovery of the first sub-atomic
particle.
Why are we talking about shortcomings
of Classical Physics?

• Classical physics: • Around 1900, discoveries


Newtonian Physics, not explained by Classical
Physics e.g. light emitted
Thermodynamics,Maxwell
by gas discharge tubes,
theory of EM. BB radiation etc.

• The laws of Classical • Where did classical


Physics break down Physics failed? Why a
when applied to new theory of light and
matter was needed?
atomics systems.
What are those discoveries?

Hopefully you went through the introductory video of the chapter


taking you the memory lane of atoms and sub-atomic particles.

We won’t go as far back to Dalton age but it is good to know what


was known before Thomson experiment.

Other names of those giants referred to in the video will appear


progressively in our lectures.

In this lecture, let’s see the contribution of J.J. Thomson


The discovery of the electron itself as a subatomic
particle was not obvious!

Activities: 1) Openings youtube videos: Cathode


rays; the use of the RH rule.
2) Comprehension questions & additional
resources.
J.J. Thomson; the discovery of the
electron
Observations:
Faraday’s gas discharge tube ?? • Current
• Cathode glow
• Gas glow

• Current flows through low pressure gas discharge tube.


• Color of discharge depends on the type of gas in the tube
• Regardless of the gas, a unique glow around the negative “cathode”
electrode
J.J. Thomson; the discovery of the electron
His Question: What are those cathode rays?

No B, no deflection

Observations:
•Collecting electrode off to the side
i.e. Presence of B deflects the CR
Conclusions:
•Cathode rays carry an electric
charge
•Sign: Negative

B out of the page plane


He later designed a crossed-field experiment for q/m measurement.
To understand the schematic properly:
*Consider a table where you are
running your experiment
•The beam travels from left to right
in the plane of the table
•The magnetic field is out of the table
Question: Where does a negatively
charged particle is deflected?
Apply the RH (right hand) rule and
convince yourself that it is in the
indicated part in the plane of the table!
Thomson applied an electric field
that will act against the deflection of
the beam. How?: oriented from the opposite
to the side part of the plane of the table where
deflection had occurred.
The improved current value is 1.76  1011 C/kg
Measuring this ratio for  cathode materials, he found the same value
i.e. all metals emit same cathode rays!! Same particle emitted!!

Thomson compared this ratio to that known for hydrogen ion already
known to be  1 108 C/kg; this value is 1000 times smaller than the
one he obtained for a cathode ray. Assuming that both carried the same
charge (and he had reasons to do so), he concluded that the cathode
ray was a 1000 times smaller than H atom, the smallest atom!

Thomson had thus discovered a sub-atomic particle to be called later,


the electron.

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