J.J. Thomson's Charge-to-Mass Ratio Experiment

JJ Thompson's 1896 experiment determined the charge to mass ratio of an electron using a cathode ray tube. By applying electric and magnetic fields, he observed the deflection of cathode rays, leading to the discovery that electrons are negatively charged particles much lighter than hydrogen atoms. This experiment challenged the notion of atoms being indivisible, proving the existence of subatomic particles.

What was the main purpose of JJ Thompson's experiment conducted in 1896?

• To discover the neutron

• To measure the speed of light

• To find the atomic number of hydrogen

• To calculate the charge to mass ratio of an electron

What happens to cathode rays when only an electric field is applied?

• They remain stationary

• They travel in straight lines

• They deflect towards the positive plate

• They move in a circular path

How do cathode rays behave when both electric and magnetic fields are applied simultaneously?

• They travel in straight lines

• They move in a circular path

• They scatter randomly

• They deflect towards the positive plate

What did Thompson conclude about the particles in cathode rays?

• They are about 1836 times lighter than hydrogen atoms

• They are positively charged

• They are heavier than hydrogen atoms

• They are neutral

What significant discovery about atoms did Thompson's experiment lead to?

• Atoms are made of protons only

• Atoms consist of negatively charged subatomic particles called electrons

• Atoms are indivisible

• Atoms have no internal structure