Lecture 1

Discovery of Electrons

1
 Accelerating an electron from rest:
cathode anode
0V 3.0 V
- +
Electron has a final velocity
Initially is stationary,
=
velocity = 0
e e
1 2
𝑚 𝑣 =𝑞 𝑉
2
1 −31 2 −19
×9.11 ×10 × 𝑣 =1.6 × 10 ×3
2
𝑣=1.03 × 106 ms− 1

3.0 V

In this diagram, we say the electron is being accelerated from rest by 3.0
V to a final velocity of .
2
 J.J Thompson’s electron tube, e/m experiment:
d is the separation
between the parallel
These two parallel plates plates.

These two parallel plates produce an electric field E, this

are used for accelerating field will exert an electric force
the electron on the electron

Heater - + +
element
-

Used to produce - +
electrons
The coil will produce a magnetic
field B (into the page), this field
will exert a magnetic force on 3
 + +820 V If the voltage and the separation between the
parallel plates are given, then we can find the field
strength using the formula:
d = 1.2 cm
V
Electric field strength=
d
- 820
0V
¿ −2
1.2 × 10

These parallel lines are the electric field lines. ¿ 68333 V m −1

Because the plates are parallel, the electric
field strength is constant between the plate.

4
 If the voltage and the separation between the parallel
plates are given, then we can find the field strength using
+ +820 V
the formula:
F electric Electric field strength , E=
V
d = 1.2 cm e
d
820
¿ −2
1.2 × 10
- ¿ 68333 V m −1
0V

If an electron is in the electric field region, it will

experience electric force.
𝑉
Electric force, ¿𝑞
𝑑
here, we assume the
charge of electron is given. ¿ 1.6 ×10 −19 × 68333
¿ 1.09 ×10− 13 N
5
 Current
Current
x x x x x
The ‘x’ is a symbol which shows that the
x x x x x x x magnetic field is directing into the page.
x x x x x x x
The magnetic field B, is produced by current
x x x x x x x x in the coil.
x x x x x x x
For this course, the value of magnetic field or
x x x x x x magnetic flux density will be given.
x x x x Current

Current

6
 If an electron is in a magnetic field, it will
Current experience a magnetic force. The formula is:
Current
x x x x x
x x x x x x x F magnetic =q v B

x x x x x x x If the charge q = C,
e the speed of electron v = and the magnetic flux
x x x x x x x x density B =
𝐹 magnetic
x x x x x x x
x x x x x x Then the magnetic force on electron is:
x x x x Current

Current
F magnetic =q v B
¿ 1.6 ×10 −19 × 2.85 ×107 × 2.4 ×10− 3
¿ 1.09 ×10− 13 N
Magnetic field, magnetic flux density, or magnetic field of
induction all mean the same quantity in this course. 7
 Current
Current
x x x x x
x x x+ x +820
x Vx x

F electric
x x x x x x
e
x x x x x x x x
F magnetic
x x x x x x
-
x x x x x0 V x
x x x x Current

Current

8
 Current
Current

+ +820 V F electric is stronger than F magnetic

F Eelectric
d = 1.2 cm e F electric =F magnetic
F Magnetic
- 0V F magnetic is stronger than F electric
Current

Current

9
 If the electron (or electron beam) goes undeflected, then we have the following:

Current
Current

+ +820 V

F Eelectric
d = 1.2 cm e F electric =F magnetic
qE=qvB
- 0V Rearrange:
𝐸
𝑣=
𝐵
Current
If we know the electric field strength E
and magnetic flux density B, then we
can find the speed v of the electron10
The goal of this experiment is to find q/m.
Parallel plates B
Parallel plates A
Heater
element - + +

- + Coil
Voltage across Voltage across
parallel plates A parallel plates B
1 𝑉𝐵
𝑚 𝑣 2=𝑞 𝑉 𝑎 F electric =F magnetic 𝐸=
2 𝑑
qE=qvB Separation between
𝐸 parallel plate B
1
2
×𝑚 ×
𝐸 2
𝐵 ( )
=𝑞 𝑉 𝑎 𝑣=
𝐵

2 𝐵 ( )
1 𝐸 2 1 𝑞
× × =
𝑉𝑎 𝑚 11
Example 1:
In Thomson’s experiment, electrons accelerated from rest through a potential
difference of 1000 V are collimated into a fine beam to pass through a space
between two metal plates where crossed electric and magnetic field is
applied. If the magnetic flux density and the electric field strength is 2000
find e/m ratio (specific charge) and the speed of the electron.

Parallel plates B
Parallel plates A
Heater
element - + +

- +
Voltage across
parallel plates A E= 2000
= 1000 V B= 12
 Parallel plates B
Parallel plates A

Heater - +
element +

+-
-
Voltage across
parallel plates A
1
2
2
𝑚 𝑣 =𝑞 𝑉 𝑎 F electric =F magnetic
qE=qvB
𝐸 2000 7 −1
𝑣= = = 2× 10 ms
𝐵 1 ×10 −4
1 2
( )
×𝑚 × 𝑣 =𝑞 𝑉 𝑎
2
1 7 2
×𝑚 × ( 2 ×10 ) =𝑞 ×1000
2
𝑞 − 11 −1
=2 × 10 Ckg 13
𝑚
 If we remove the parallel plates B and setup the apparatus like
the diagram below, we can also find q/m.

When the electron enters the magnetic field, it

Parallel plates A experiences magnetic force:

Heater - +
F magnetic =q v B
element e
F magnetic This will make the electron travels in circular motion.
Since travel in circular motion, hence electron also
1 2
experiences centripetal force, .
𝑚 𝑣 =𝑞 𝑉 𝑎
2
m v2
F centripetal =
r

detector region of magnetic field directed into the page 14

 Parallel plates A
Electron travels in circular motion because of
Heater - +
element e
F magnetic Hence, we say the source of centripetal force is from
the magnetic force.
1 2
𝑚 𝑣 =𝑞 𝑉 𝑎
2 F magnetic = F centripetal
𝑚 𝑣2
𝑞𝑣𝐵=
𝑟
𝑞 𝑣
detector =
𝑚 𝑟𝐵

v is the speed of electron, r is the radius of the circular motion, B is the

magnetic flux density
15
 Example 2:

In Thomson’s experiment, a beam of electrons travelling at is bent into circular

path of radius 6 cm in a magnetic flux density is normal to its path. Find the specific
charge (q/m).
Parallel plates A

Heater - +
element e F magnetic =F centripetal
𝑚 𝑣2
6 cm
𝑞𝑣𝐵=
𝑟
𝑞 𝑣 10.2 ×107
= =
𝑚 𝑟𝐵 6 ×10 −2 ×1× 10− 2

¿ 1.7 ×10 −11 Ck g −1

16
Example 2:
In Thomson’s experiment, an electron is accelerated from rest in an electric field
through a potential difference of 2000 V. It then enters normally in the magnetic
flux density is Find the velocity of the electron and the radius of curvature of the
path.
Given, the mass of electron is , charge on electron is .

Heater - + m=
element e
q=
6 cm
Voltage=2000 V

17
 Parallel
plates A
Heater - + m=
element e
q=
Voltage=2000 V

1 2 F magnetic = F centripetal
𝑚 𝑣 =𝑞 𝑉 𝑎
2
𝑚 𝑣2
1 −31 2 −19 𝑞𝑣𝐵=
×9.11 ×10 × 𝑣 =1.6 × 10 ×2000 𝑟
2
v =2.65 ×10 7 ms−1 𝑚𝑣
𝑟=
𝑞𝐵

9.11× 10−31 × 2.65 × 10 7

¿ −19 −4
1. 6 × 10 × 3.0 ×10

0.503 m 18