Determination of e/m by J.J.

Thompson’s Method

IDENTIFY –
1) Cathode ray tube (CRT) placed on a wooden stand
2) A deflection magnetometer
3) Stand for deflection magnetometer
4) A wooden bench that has two scales fixed on it with a gap in between to place the
CRT or the deflection magnetometer.
5) Power supply for the cathode ray tube

THEORY
The apparatus consists of a cathode ray that is highly evacuated to avoid the collisions of
electrons with air molecules. The inner surface of the discharge tube at the right is coated
with a fluorescent material. The electrons strike the screen and produce a glow at point O.
Under the action of magnetic field alone electrons are deflected downwards. Initially,
only the electric field is produced. The electrons experience a vertical force so long they
are within the deflecting plates.
If l is the length of the deflecting plate and v is the velocity of the electron in horizontal
direction as emerging from the gun then the vertical velocity of the electron after
emerging from the deflecting plate is
eVl
vy =
mdv
Hence, V is the deflecting voltage, e is the charge of an electron, and m is the mass of the
electron. Separation between the deflecting plates is d.
After emerging from the deflecting plates if this electron traverses L distance horizontally
to reach the screen then the vertical deflection is given by
eVl ⋅ L
D= (1)
mdv ⋅ v

The above relation is true if l<<L. If two bar magnets are placed on the east-west arm
and can nullify the deflection produced by the electric field then
 V
e = evB (2)
d

From (1) and (2) one gets

e V
=
m lLd ( B 2 / D)

If θ is the deflection angle of the compass needle produced by the same magnetic
field which nullified the deflection of the electron beam then the magnetic field
B=BH tanθ, where BH is the horizontal component of earth’s magnetic field.

PROCEDURE –
1) Place the stand of the deflection magnetometer in between the gap of the two
scales of the wooden bench. Now place the deflection magnetometer on that stand
in such a way that the 0-0 mark of the magnetometer is in line with the scales of
the wooden bench
2) The thin silver needle in the magnetometer may or may not coincide with the 0-0
mark. Hold the wooden bench and rotate it slowly so that the silver needle comes
to coincide with the 0-0 mark.
(This is done to align the bench exactly in the east-west direction so that the effect
of earth’s magnetic field is nullified)
3) Keeping the bench in this position slowly remove the magnetometer along with its
stand. Now take the wooden stand, which has the CRT fixed in it and place it in
the gap. Switch on the power supply and keep the deflecting voltage at zero Volts.
The deflecting voltage can be adjusted by turning the knob marked “Y-shift”.
Wait for 15-20 sec. A green spot appears on the screen of the CRT (due to the
electrons striking the fluorescent screen of the CRT)
4) Note the position of the spot. On the screen there is a scale. Generally the central
line of that scale is considered as 0 and each division after that measures 0.2 cm.
If the green spot is not exactly on 0 position then it gives you the initial reading
of the position of the spot with zero deflecting voltage (say this is 0.1 cm). Note
this in Table 1
5) Now rotate the “Y-Shift” knob to impart a deflecting voltage of 2 Volts. The
green spot will shift its position along the y-axis. Note the reading (Say it is
0.3cm). Then the displacement of the spot due to the applied deflecting voltage is
(0.3cm-0.1cm).
6) Now place two bar magnets on either extreme ends of the scale of the wooden
bench. Make sure that two opposite poles of the magnet are facing one another.
Keeping your eyes in level with the spot and slide the magnets towards one
another until the spot has returned to the position where it was with zero
deflecting voltage. (i.e., 0.1 Volts say). Make sure that the magnets are on the
same position on the either sale otherwise their position must be adjusted.
Record the position of the magnets in Table 1.
7) Without disturbing the position of the magnets remove the CRT and place the
magnetometer again in such a way that the 0-0 mark is in line with the scale. Note
 the deflection of the silver needle on either end. Note down the reading in
Table 2.
8) Do the required calculations and draw a graph between B2/D and V.
Find the slope and find the value of e/m.

SUPPLIED DATA –
1) L= 9.0 cm 2)d = 0.4 cm 3) l = 1.0 cm 4)BH = 0.373 Oe

EXPERIMENTAL TABLES
Table 1:

No. of Obs. Applied Direct Field

Voltage(V) Position of Spot Magnetic Pole’s Distance

Initial Final Deflection r1 r2

(cm) (cm) D in cm (cm) (cm)

Table 2:

No. of Applied Voltage Reading of two ends Mean θ B=BH tanθ B2

Obs. (V)(Volt) of pointer when = θ1+θ2 (Oe) D
magnetic poles are at 2
θ1 and θ2 (degree)
(degree)

CALCULATIONS: Draw a graph for applied voltage V vs. B2/D. Find the slope and use
it to find the value for e/m.

PERCENTAGE ERROR CALCULATION:

δ (e / m) 2 tan θ ⋅ sec 2 θ ⋅ δθ δD
= +
e/m tan θ D

δθ =1°, δD = 0.05c.m