- #1
krisn
- 4
- 0
Why are cathode rays able to penetrate very thin metal films?
krisn said:If electron clouds are considered, is there actually any spaces between the atoms (or more correctly ions) in the metallic lattice? If there is no space between atoms, then the cathode rays are really passing through the empty space within the atom, rather than spaces between the atoms. This is what I am trying to clarify.
Thanks
krisn said:So Drakkith, are you saying that the space between atoms is actually the space between the nucleus and the electrons in an atom because the volume of space in which an electron could be is cannot be exactly be defined (we only know regions where electrons are most likely to be found).
Thanks
Cathode rays are streams of electrons that are emitted from the negative electrode, or cathode, in a vacuum tube. They were first discovered by British physicist J.J. Thomson in the late 19th century.
Cathode rays have several properties, including the ability to be deflected by electric and magnetic fields, the ability to cause fluorescence in certain materials, and the ability to produce heat when they strike a surface.
Cathode rays are produced when high voltage is applied to a cathode in a vacuum tube. This causes electrons to be released from the cathode and accelerated towards the anode, creating a stream of electrons.
Cathode rays have been historically used in cathode ray tubes (CRTs) for television and computer screens. They are also used in spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and particle accelerators.
The discovery and study of cathode rays led to a better understanding of the nature of electricity and the existence of subatomic particles. This laid the foundation for future advancements in physics, including the development of quantum mechanics.