THERMIONIC EMISSION

1. Thermionic emission is a process of emitting of electrons from metal

surface that being heated.
2. Thermionic emission rate depends on:

FACTORS THERMIONIC EMISSION RATE

• Temperature of the metal

• Surface area of the metal

• Type of metal Depends on the metal

• Surface of the metal covered

with metal oxide

MALTESE CROSS TUBE

1. A Maltese cross tube is a special cathode ray tube used to investigate the
properties of cathode rays.
i) Cathode rays travel in straight lines and they can be stopped by a piece
of metal.
ii) Cathode rays transmitted straight lines and produce fluorescent effect
iii) Cathode rays have energy and can do work.
iv) Cathode rays can be deflected by magnetic field and electric field.

STRUCTURE OF CATHODE RAYS (C.R.O.)

1. A C.R.O. is an instrument that converts electronic and electrical signals to
a visual display.

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 2. A C.R.O uses a cathode-ray tube : an electron gun sends electrons
through the vacuum to a fluorescent screen and a light spot appears on
the screen.
3. A C.R.O. consists of three main parts. There are electron gun, deflection
system and the fluorescent screen.
4. The diagram below shows the structure of a C.R.O.

Structure of a C.R.O

5. The table shown summaries the function of different parts of a C.R.O.

Main Component Component Function

Filament Heating up cathode
Cathode Emitting electrons by
thermionic emission
Electron gun Control grid Brightness control by
controlling amount of
electrons passing
through it
Focusing anode i) focusing of electron
beam
Accelerating anode ii)Accelerating electron
beam
Deflection system Y- Plates Deflect the electron beam
vertically ( upward and
downward)
X- plates Deflect the electron beam
horizontally ( left and
right)
Fluorescent screen i) Screen coated with a Change the kinetic
fluorescent material energy of the electron to
light energy
ii) Graphite is coated over Electrons that hit the
fluorescent screen and screen are sent to the
earthed earth
THE WORKING PRINCIPLE OF THE CATHODE RAY
OSCILLOSCOPE (C.R.O.)

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1. The operation of a C.R.O. depends on the thermionic emission.
2. The tube is applied with a potential difference.
3. The negative electrode is called a cathode, and the positive is an anode.
4. If the cathode is heated, it will become hot and glows.
5. The negative charge (negative) leaves the cathode and flows to the anode.
6. The electron flows is called cathode rays.

THE USE OF C.R.O.

C.R.O. can be used to :

a) Measure potential difference
i) Since the vertical deflection of the light spot (trace) is proportional to the
voltage applied across the Y-plates, the C.R.O. can be used as a
voltmeter.
ii) It can measure both a.c. and d.c. voltages. It measure the peak voltage of
a.c. input signal.

Example 1.
A C.R.O. shows a trace of a d.c. voltage as in the following diagram. The
time base setting is 20 ms/cm and the Y-gain setting is 5V/cm.

Amplitude of the waveform = 1 cm

The voltage is given by
V = (5)(1) = 5 V

The wave corresponds to a + 5V d.c. input voltage.

Example 2

When an a.c. voltage is connected to the Y-gain of the C.R.O., a waveform

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 as shown below is displayed on the screen. The time-base setting is 5
ms/cm and the Y-gain setting is 1V/cm.

Amplitude of the waveform = 2 cm

The peak voltage is given by
V = (1)(2) = 2 V
The waveform corresponds to an a.c. input with a peak voltage of 2V.

b) Measure short time intervals

Examples : period of signal input the C.R.O., time interval between a
transmitted pulse and its reflected pulse.
i) The diagram below shows the waveform of an a.c. signal input to a
C.R.O.. The time interval between point P and Q is the period.

ii) If the time base is set to 5ms/cm, the period

T = 5 ms/cm x 4 cm
= 20 ms ( or 0.02 s)

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 iii) The frequency of the a.c. signal can be determined by
f = 1 = 1 = 50 Hz
T 0.02s

c) Display waveform.

When a signal is connected to the Y-input and earth terminals, a bright

spot on the screen moves vertically. Switching on time-base will move the
bright spot horizontally. The combination of the horizontal and vertical
movements of the bright spot will generate a wave forms.

a.c voltage across y-plate Time base voltage resultant waveform

makes spot move up and sweeps spot across
down the screen

ACTIVITIES
A) Match the correct statement.

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 • Control grid • A process of emitting
electrons from metal surface
• Thermionic emission that being heated
• Deflect the electron beam
• Cathode ray oscilloscope horizontally
• To control the number of
• X-plates electron through it and control
the intensity of the light spot
• Y-plates on the screen
• Deflect the electron beam
vertically
• An instrument to detect and
display electric signal

B. Choose the best answer for every question.

1. What is emitted by the hot metal filament in a cathode ray tube?
A α – particles
B electrons
C protons
D X-rays

2. Thermionic emission is a process where

A electrons are emitted from a surface of a hot metal
B electrons are accelerated toward anode
C electrons are emitted from nucleus atom

3. How are the electrons produced in a cathode ray tube?

A by applying an electric field to the X-plates
B by heating a metal filament
C by ionization of the air
D by radioactive decay

4. Which of the following is not a property of a cathode rays?

A They travel in a straight lines
B They are deflected by an electric field
C They are not affected by gravity.
D They have momentum and energy

5. The following trace is shown on the screen of an oscilloscope when it is

connected to a transformer. The scale is set at 5V per centimeter.

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 What is the value of the peak voltage?
A 4V
B 5V
C 10 V
D 20 V

Structure question

1. Figure above shows the structure of the cathode ray oscilloscope.

a) Name the process of electron emission from the hot surface of the
cathode.

__________________________________________________________

b) How the acceleration of the electron can be increased?

__________________________________________________________

c) State the energy changes of the electron when it hits the fluorescent
screen.

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

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2. Figure below illustrates the trace obtain on the screen of an oscilloscope
when a given signal is applied to the input terminals. The voltage sensitivity is
0.20 V/cm and the time-base is set to 2.0 ms/cm.

(a) Determine the maximum positive value of the voltage indicated.

________________________________________________________

(b) Determine the frequency of the signal

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

ASSESTMENT
1. Which of the following is not a factor that influences the rate of thermionic
emission?
A Type of metal D Surface area of the metal
B Temperature of the metal E The conductivity of the metal
C Surface properties of the metal

2. The diagram shows a trace on an oscilloscope set at 5 V/cm on the vertical

axis.

What is the maximum value of the potential difference being measured?

A 1.5 V C 7.5 V
B 3.0 V D 15.0 V

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3. Which of the following is not the function of the cathode ray oscilloscope?
A measure the potential difference of a.c and d.c
B measure short time intervals
C measure the resistance
D investigate the waveform

4. Name the component in cathode ray oscilloscope that can accelerate the
electron.
A focusing anode C filament
B acceleration anode D control grid

Question 5 and 6 base on the diagram below.

5. The following trace is shown on the screen of a cathode ray oscilloscope

for an a.c The scale is set for 5 V/cm and the time base is set to 10
ms/cm. Calculate the value of the peak voltage.
A 5V
B 10 V
C 15 V
D 20 V
E 25 V

6. Calculate the frequency for this a.c current.

A 100 Hz
B 25 Hz
C 10 Hz
D 0.04 Hz
E 0.01 Hz

STRUCTURE QUESTION
1. (a) Describe with the aid of a diagram or diagrams the structure and action of
a cathode ray oscilloscope. Your answer accounts of how the oscilloscope
(i) produces a beam of fast moving electrons
(ii) makes the beam of electrons produce a visible trace
(iii) deflects the beam of electrons

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(b) In order to produce the trace shown in figure below, the voltage sensitivity
of an oscilloscope was set at 0.50 V per division and the time-base was
set at 2.0 ms per division.

For the voltage applied to the Y-terminals, determine

(i) the peak value
(ii) the period
(iii) the frequency

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ANSWER KEY (ACTIVITIES)
Part A
Control grid = To control the number of electron through it and control the
intensity of the light spot on the screen

Thermionic emission = A process of emitting electrons from metal surface that

being heated

Cathode ray oscilloscope = An instrument to detect and display electric signal

X-plates = Deflect the electron beam horizontally

Y-plates = Deflect the electron beam vertically

Part B
1. B
2. A
3. B
4. C
5. C

Structure Question

1 a) thermionic emission
b) increase the potential difference between accelerating anode and cathode
c) from kinetic energy to light energy and heat energy

2. a) Maximum positive value of voltage =0.20 x 4 = 0.80 V

b) Period of signal = 2.0 x 5 = 10 ms

Frequency = 1 / period = 1/ 10x 10-3 = 100 Hz

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ASSESTMENT
1. E
2. C
4. B
5. C
6. B

STRUCTURE QUESTION
1. (a) Main feature of the cathode ray tube

The cathode ray tube consists of the electron gun, the deflection system and
the fluorescent screen. In the electron gun, the heater heats the cathode to
release the electrons and the grid controls the amount of electrons reaching the
grid. The anode which is at a positive potential accelerate the electrons and
focuses it into a fine beam. The Y-plates serve to deflect the beam vertically
while the X-plates deflect the beam horizontally. Both plates cause a waveform to
be formed on the screen.
The screen is coated with a fluorescent material. When the beam strikes it, it
glows.

(b) (i) From the trace, the height of the peak value is 4 ½ division.

The peak value = 0.5 x 4 ½ = 2.25 V

(ii) From the trace, there are 3 cycles in 0.02 seconds.

Hence the period = 0.02 = 6 ⅔ ms = 6.67 ms

(iii) The frequency = 1 = 1 x 103 = 150 Hz

period 20/3

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