Thomson's Experiment

● outline Thomson’s experiment to measure the charge to mass ratio of an

electron
Aim: to measure the charge to mass ratio of an electron

Background Information:
A debate about whether cathode rays were electromagnetic waves or streams of charged
particles was unsolved as cathode rays behaved like both.
They qualified the wave model as they:
● travelled in straight lines
● if an opaque object was placed in their path, a shadow of that object appeared
● they could pass through thin metal foils without damaging them.

They also qualified the particle model:

● the rays left the cathode at right angles to the surface
● they were deflected by magnetic fields
● small paddlewheels turned when placed in the path of the rays
● they travelled more slowly than light.

However, the main restriction for the charged particle theory was the failure of the rays to
deflect in electric fields. Hertz wrongly observed that cathode rays were not deflected by
electric fields. Despite this, Thompson believed cathode rays carried mass and charge and
repeated Hertz’s experiment. He removed more of the gas from his tube, producing a better
vacuum.

Apparatus:
- Induction coil
- Evacuated
glass tube
- Cathode
- Anode with a
slit
- Double
collimator
tubes
- 2 Helmholtz
coils
- Charged plates
- 2 magnets
- Fluorescent screen

Method:
1. Set up the apparatus as shown in the diagram above, connecting the evacuated
discharge tube to an induction coil and using two charged plates to create an electric
field (without a magnetic field).
 2. Turn the power on, passing cathode rays through the electric field.
3. Observe the direction of the deflection of the cathode rays.
4. Place two magnets (created by Helmholtz coils with a current passing through them) on
either
side of
the tube
as
shown
in the
diagram
below.

5. Observe the cathode rays on the fluorescent screen.

6. Adjust the strengths of the magnetic and electric fields until they are balanced, ceasing
to cause a deflection of the cathode rays.
7. Measure the strength of the electric and magnetic fields to calculate the velocity of the
cathode rays.
8. Turn off the electric field, leaving the magnetic field.
9. Measure the deflection of the cathode rays to calculate the charge to mass ratio of an
electron.
10. Repeat the experiment using different metals such as aluminium, iron and platinum as
electrode materials.

Discussion:
● Thomson produced a better vacuum than Hertz by removing more of the gas from his
tube. This allowed him to observe a deflection of the cathode rays in the electric field.
● The cathode rays moved towards the positively charged plate proving the rays must be
negatively charged.
● Thomson passed the cathode rays through a uniform magnetic field created by
Helmholtz coils with a current passing through them.
● On adding a magnetic field in the tube, the deflection of the cathode rays is in the
opposite direction to the deflection produced by the electric field.
● By adjusting the strengths of the fields, the cathode rays between the electric and
magnetic forces were balanced.
■ Fmagnetic = Felectric
■

● The velocity was equal to the electric field strength divided by the
 magnetic field strength. Thomson could measure these field strengths and use them to
calculate the velocity of the rays.
● By turning off the electric field, Thomson could measure the deflection of the cathode
rays in the magnetic field alone.
● The beam bent into a circular arc and he measured the radius of this deflection.
● By equating the centripetal force to the magnetic force and using the calculated
velocity, Thomson obtained the charge to mass ratio.
■ Fmagnetic = Fcentripetal
■

● When repeating the experiment with different metals as electrode materials, Thomson
found that the charge to mass ratio did not charge. The value was not affected by
different gases in the tube or different metal electrodes. He realised that the particles
(electrons) were not associated with a particular element.

Conclusion:
Cathode rays consist of small negatively charged particles which Thomson called
‘corpuscles’. They are a universal constituent of matter and are found within the atoms of all
elements. These particles are now called electrons.

The charge to mass ratio of an electron was measured as 1.76 × 1011 C/kg. The q/m for a H+
ion is 1800x smaller.

Bibliography:
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https://www.khanacademy.org/science/chemistry/electronic-structure-of-atoms/history-of-
atomic-structure/a/discovery-of-the-electron-and-nucleus [Accessed 13 May 2017].

Lofts, Graeme. Jacaranda Physics 2. Milton, Qld.: John Wiley & Sons, 2004. Print.

Nsb.wikidot.com. (2017). Thomson's Experiment - Nsb Notes. [online] Available at:

http://nsb.wikidot.com/pl-9-4-1-8 [Accessed 12 May 2017].

Nyu.edu. (2017). J.J. Thomson's experiment and the charge-to-mass ratio of the electron.
[online] Available at:
https://www.nyu.edu/classes/tuckerman/adv.chem/lectures/lecture_3/node1.html
[Accessed 12 May 2017].

Www-outreach.phy.cam.ac.uk. (2017). Cambridge Physics - Discovery of the Electron.

[online] Available at: http://www-
outreach.phy.cam.ac.uk/camphy/electron/electron_index.htm [Accessed 12 May 2017].