GROUP:Owen Wen , Ariel Iglesias and Javier Santos

Grade: 12 Date:03/11/24

Answer of chapter 1 page 27

Question page 27

1
A) beam of electrons is passing close to a highly negatively
charged plate. When the electrons pass close to the plate, they
are deflected (bent) away from the plate.

i) What deflection would you expect, if any, when the experiment

is repeated with beams of i protons and ii neutrons? Explain your
answers

ii) Which subatomic particle (electron, proton or neutron) would

deviate the most? Explain your answer.

Answer

i) Protons: Protons are positively charged particles, so they would

be attracted to the highly negatively charged plate. Therefore,
when a beam of protons passes close to the plate, it would be
deflected towards the plate.

ii) Neutrons: Neutrons are neutral particles, meaning they have no

charge. Since they are not affected by electric fields, they would
not be deflected by the highly negatively charged plate.
Therefore, there would be no deflection of neutrons when passing
close to the plate.
iii) The subatomic particle that would deviate the most would be
the electron. This is because electrons are negatively charged
particles, and they would experience the greatest force of
repulsion when passing close to the highly negatively charged
plate. Protons, being positively charged, would also experience a
force of attraction but to a lesser extent compared to the repulsive
force experienced by electrons. Neutrons, having no charge,
would not experience any force from the electric field and
therefore would not be deflected at all.

2 part
i)Write the result of J.J thomson experiment.

ii)Investigate the steps of the scientific method and write a brief

opinion for these two scientists in using the scientific metod.

Answer

i) J.J. Thomson's experiment, often referred to as the cathode ray

tube experiment, provided evidence for the existence of electrons
and their properties. In this experiment:

1. Thomson observed that when a high voltage was applied

across electrodes in a cathode ray tube, a stream of particles was
produced, which he called cathode rays.
2. He found that these cathode rays were attracted to the
positively charged electrode (anode), indicating that they were
negatively charged.

3. By measuring the deflection of the cathode rays in the

presence of magnetic and electric fields, Thomson was able to
determine the charge-to-mass ratio (e/m ratio) of the cathode ray
particles.

4. He concluded that the cathode rays were made up of

negatively charged particles, which he called electrons.
Furthermore, since the e/m ratio was much larger than that of any
known ion, Thomson concluded that these particles must be
fundamental constituents of atoms.

Overall, Thomson's experiment provided compelling evidence for

the existence of electrons as subatomic particles and led to the
development of the plum pudding model of the atom, which
suggested that electrons were embedded within a positively
charged sphere, much like raisins in a pudding.

ii)The scientific method typically involves the following steps:

1. Observation: Scientists make observations about the natural

world, identifying phenomena or patterns that raise questions or
spark curiosity.
2. Question: Based on their observations, scientists formulate
questions that they want to investigate further. These questions
should be specific, testable, and relevant to the observed
phenomenon.

3. Hypothesis: Scientists propose possible explanations or

hypotheses to answer the question. A hypothesis is a testable
statement that predicts the outcome of an experiment or
observation.

4. Prediction: From the hypothesis, scientists make predictions

about what should happen under certain conditions if the
hypothesis is true.

5. Experimentation: Scientists design and conduct experiments or

gather data to test their hypotheses and predictions. This involves
carefully controlling variables, collecting data, and analyzing
results.

6. Analysis: Scientists analyze the data collected from

experiments to determine whether it supports or contradicts their
hypotheses. They may use statistical analysis and other methods
to interpret the results.

7. Conclusion: Based on the analysis of the data, scientists draw

conclusions about whether their hypothesis is supported or not. If
the hypothesis is supported, it may lead to further questions and
experiments. If not, scientists may revise their hypotheses or
develop new ones.
8. Communication: Scientists communicate their findings through
publications, presentations, and discussions with colleagues. This
allows others to review, replicate, and build upon their work,
contributing to the advancement of knowledge.

Now, considering two scientists who have made significant

contributions using the scientific method:

1. J.J. Thomson: Thomson's use of the scientific method was

evident in his cathode ray tube experiments, where he observed
the behavior of cathode rays, formulated hypotheses about their
nature, and conducted experiments to test these hypotheses. His
careful experimentation and analysis led to the discovery of
electrons and laid the foundation for modern atomic theory.
Thomson's systematic approach to inquiry and rigorous scientific
methods were crucial in advancing our understanding of the
structure of atoms.

2. Marie Curie: Curie's work on radioactivity also exemplifies the

scientific method. She observed the phenomenon of radioactivity
in certain elements, formulated hypotheses about its cause and
properties, and conducted numerous experiments to investigate
further. Her groundbreaking research not only led to the discovery
of new elements but also expanded our understanding of the
fundamental properties of matter. Curie's meticulous approach to
experimentation and her adherence to scientific principles were
instrumental in her remarkable scientific achievements.

In my opinion, both J.J. Thomson and Marie Curie demonstrated

exemplary use of the scientific method in their respective
research endeavors. Their commitment to systematic inquiry,
careful experimentation, and logical analysis paved the way for
significant advancements in science and contributed immensely
to our understanding of the natural world.