Investigating the

electron 2
AT O M I C ST RUCT URE
1J .J . Thomsons cathode
ray tube
G I n 1897 J.J. Thomson devi sed an
experi ment wi th cathode raysthat
resulted i n the di scovery of the
electron.
G Up to thi sti me, i t wasthought that the
hydrogen atom wasthe smallest
parti cle i n exi stence. Thomson
demonstrated that electrons( whi ch he
called corpuscles) compri si ng cathode
rayswere nearly 2,000 ti messmaller i n
massthan the then li ghtest-known
parti cle, the hydrogen i on.
G When a hi gh voltage i splaced acrossa
pai r of plates, they become charged
relati ve to each other. The posi ti vely
charged plate i sthe anode, and the
negati vely charged plate the cathode.
G Electronspassfrom the surface of the
cathode and accelerate toward the
opposi tely charged anode. The anode
absorbsmany electrons, but i f the
anode hassli ts, some electronswi ll
passthrough.
G The electronstravel i nto an evacuated
tube, where they move i n a strai ght
li ne unti l stri ki ng a fluorescent screen.
Thi sscreen i scoated wi th a chemi cal
that glowswhen electronsstri ke i t.
2 Evidence of the
photoelectric effect
G The photoelectric effect i sthe
emi ssi on of electronsfrom metals
upon the absorpti on of
electromagneti c radiation.
G Sci enti stsobserved the effect i n the
ni neteenth century, but they could not
explai n i t unti l the development of
quantum physi cs.
G To observe the effect, a clean zi nc
plate i splaced i n a negati vely charged
electroscope. The gold leaf and brass
plate carrythe same negati ve charge
and repel each other.
G When ultravi olet radi ati on stri kesthe
zi nc plate, electronsare emi tted. The
negati ve charge on the electroscope i s
reduced, and the gold leaf falls.
anode
cathode
cathode rays
electron
photoelectric
effect
radiation
Key words
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2 Evidence of the photoelectric effect

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Negatively charged
electroscope with
zinc plate attached
The leaf falls as
electrons are ejected
from the zinc plate
If positively charged
the electroscope
remains charged
1J .J . Thomsons cathode ray tube
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l u ltra v i o le t li g h t
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g
a h i g h vo lta g e
b ca th o d e
c g a s d i sc h a rg e p ro v i d e s fre e e le c tro n s
d a n o d e wi th sli t
e y -d e fle c ti n g p la te
f d i re c ti o n o f tra ve l o f th e ca th o d e ra ys
g flo u re sc e n t sc re e n
h li g h t
i e v a c u a te d tu b e
j x-d e fle c ti n g p la te

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