J J Thomson and the Discovery of the Electron
Date
1999Author
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Abstract
One experiment, more than any other, is often associated with the `discovery of the electron' in 1897. This is J J Thomson's determination of the mass to charge ratio (m/e) of cathode rays by deflecting them in magnetic and electric fields. Yet this experiment was performed two months after Thomson first announced that cathode rays were very small, negatively charged particles. So why was it important? I look at Thomson's route to, and conduct of, the experiment, and then at how his ideas were received.
Citation
Falconer , I J 1999 , ' J J Thomson and the Discovery of the Electron ' , Physics Education , vol. 32 , pp. 226-231 . https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-9120/32/4/015
Publication
Physics Education
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0031-9120Type
Journal article
Rights
© 1997. IOPScience. Please cite: Isobel Falconer (1999), ‘J J Thomson and the discovery of the electron’ Physics Education, vol 32, pp226-231, http://iopscience.iop.org/0031-9120/32/4/015
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