Question

In a discharge tube, do the cathode rays and anode rays travel in opposite directions simultaneously or it depends on which electrode is perforated?

Answer 1

This is further evidence that atomic structure involves a positive, heavy nucleus and negative, light electrons occupying orbitals around the nucleus. Cathode rays are streams of electrons, and they only become “visible” due to their interaction with the orbital electrons of gaseous hydrogen (for example) or whatever gas is present in the discharge tube. “canal rays” which are positive in nature (protons or positive ions) require (more) electrons to change orbitals in order to emit light, and therefore they will not be visible simply due to a lack of electrons. There are no energetic electrons in the region where the canal rays exist. Now, there are examples of visible canal rays however in this case, the canal rays are exciting orbital electrons in the ions in the surrounding plasma.