Question

Explain the characteristics of cathode rays.

Answer 1

Cathode rays:

Faraday studied the electrical discharge in a partially evacuated tube called a cathode ray discharge tube.

Characteristics of cathode rays:

1. The cathode rays consist of negatively charged particles known as electrons.
2. The cathode rays always travel in a straight line. When an opaque object is placed in the path of cathode rays, a shadow of the object is formed on the wall opposite the cathode.
3. The cathode rays produce X-rays when they strike a solid object like a high atomic weight metal and high melting points, such as copper and molybdenum.
4. A green glow fluorescence is produced when the cathode rays strike against a glass surface or screen coated with zinc sulphide.
5. The cathode rays produce heat when they strike a material surface.
6. The cathode rays are deflected from their path by electric and magnetic fields.
7. The cathode rays are negatively charged particles because they cause ionization in gases.
8. The cathode rays can penetrate through thin metal foils.
9. The charge to mass ratio for the particles in the cathode is independent of the gas's nature and the cathode's nature.