Question
How did Thomson determine that the electrons
have a negative charge?
have a negative charge?
Ask by Whittaker Carroll. in Iran
Nov 08,2024
Upstudy AI Solution
Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
Thomson determined electrons have a negative charge by studying cathode rays and observing their deflection in electric and magnetic fields, which indicated they were negatively charged particles.
Solution
Thomson determined that electrons have a negative charge through his experiments with cathode rays. In 1897, J.J. Thomson conducted experiments with cathode rays, which are streams of electrons emitted from a cathode in a vacuum tube. Thomson observed that when cathode rays were deflected by electric and magnetic fields, the deflection was consistent with the behavior of negatively charged particles.
Thomson’s experiments showed that the charge-to-mass ratio of the particles in cathode rays was much higher than that of any known charged particles at the time. This led him to conclude that the particles in cathode rays were negatively charged and much lighter than atoms. Thomson named these particles electrons, and his discovery of the electron as a negatively charged particle was a significant breakthrough in understanding atomic structure.
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Simplify this solution The Deep Dive
Using a cathode ray tube, Thomson observed streams of particles that were deflected by electric and magnetic fields. He noted that the deflection direction indicated that the charge was opposite to that of the positive electrode, leading him to conclude that these particles, now known as electrons, had a negative charge. His experiments revealed that regardless of the type of gas in the tube, the particles behaved the same way, solidifying his findings.
Thomson’s groundbreaking work laid the foundation for modern atomic theory, revealing not just the existence of electrons but also their charge. This discovery spurred a wave of research that transformed our understanding of atomic structure, ultimately leading to the development of the Bohr model and quantum mechanics. Fun fact: Thomson initially referred to these particles as “corpuscles” before the term “electron” became widely adopted!
