INSTRUCTION MANUAL

FOR

e/m By THOMSON METHOD

‘MARS’ made e/m by Thomson Method Apparatus has been designed to determine the value of specific
charge e/m of an electron by Thomson Method.

The set of Experimental set up of the following:-

1. Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) is mounted on wooden stand.

2. Power supply, fitted with a digital voltmeter (DVM) to measure the deflection voltage.
3. Bar magnets (permanent) one pair.
4. Compass box one set.
5. Wooden stand having two arms, fitted with scales to measure the distance of the pole of the
magnets. The stand can accommodate Cathode can accommodate cathode ray tube in it’s middle.
6. Another wooden stand is also provided to place the compass box in the center. This wooden stand
also be mounted in the middle of the armed stand.

Formula Used:- e/m = V λ /ILH2d×107e.m.u./gm

Where H = H e tanθ (where He is the horizontal components of earth magnetic field of the place
where experiment is performed , usually we take it value = 0.345)

Where various parameters are:-

I = Length of horizontal pair of plate.

L = Distance of the screen from the edges of the plate.

V = Voltage applied to the plates.

 = Total deflection of the spot on the screen.

H = Intensity of the applied field.

d = Separation between the plates

 THEORY

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) consists of three basic components:-

1. Electron Gun:- FF is filament which when heated emits electrons. G(control grid) carries a
negative charge, so sends out a beam of electrons which are accelerated by the
anodes.

2. Deflecting system:- This system deflects the beam of electrons either electrically or magnetically

3. Fluorescent Screen:- when beam impinges on it visible spot is produced.

The value of e/m is independent the nature of gas and material of the cathode of the discharge tube
which indicate that electrons are fundamental constituents of all materials. The present accepted
value of e/m is 1.7×107 e.m.u./gm.

PROCEDURE

1. Mount cathode Ray Tube (CRT)in armed wooden stand such that the CRT faces towards north &
South direction while arms of the stand toward East and West direction. (set the direction with the
help of compass box.)
2. Connect the CRT plug to the power supply socket mounted on the front panel.
3. Switch on the instrument using ON/OFF toggle switch provided on the front panel.
4. Set the deflection voltage to 0 volt&×shift control potentiometer to middle position. Adjust the
intensity & focus of the spot (clear as small as a point) on screen on CRT. Throw the deflection
selector switch towards forward position.
5. Read the initial reading of spot on the scale attached to the screen of the CRT, say it is -0.2cm. Now
give a deflection to the spot in the upward direction by applying deflecting voltage such that the
final reading is +1.2cm. so the total deflection on the screen of the spot is (1.2-0.2)=1.0cm. Note
down this applied voltage (v) & deflection of the spot ( λ ) inobservation Table.
6. Now place Bar magnets on both side of the wooden stand arms such that their opposite poles face
each other and their common axis is perpendicular to the axis of cathode ray Tube. The magnets
should be kept in such a manner that these may be made along the scales
7. Adjust distances and polarity of the magnets so that the spot traces back to it’s initial position
(which was -0.2cms).
8. Remove cathode Ray Tube from stand and place a magnet meter compass box mounted in a stand
in center of the armed wooden stand. Adjust the pointer of the compass box to read 0-0 without
disturbing the direction of armed wooden stand.
9. Note down the deflection angle  though compass box & note down it in the observation table .
calculate the value of magnetic field (H) by using formula:
 H = He tanθ
(Where He is the horizontal components of earth magnetic field of the place where experiment is
performed, usually we take its value = 0.345)

Note down the value of magnetic field (H2) in observation Table.

10. Calculate the value of e/m by using formula

e/m=( V λ / IL H2d)×107emu/gm

11. Repeat steps 5 to 10 for other values of spot deflection.

12. Calculate mean value of e/m for different set of readings.

NOTE : For better accuracy apply deflection voltage only up to 20 volts.

Observation Table

Length of Horizontal pair of plates (I) = 1.8cm

Distance of the screen from edges of plates (L) =10cm
Separation between the plates (d) =0.5cm

When deflection voltage is zero, the position of spot on CRT is 0.2cm. So in forward movement we
will subtract the 0.2cm. reading from final reading of the spot on CRT , when Deflection voltage is
applied.

2
Sr. Applied voltage(v) Spot Actual spot Compass box Magnetic field H
No. Deflection( λ ¿ deflection( λ ¿ deflection (θ ¿ H=H e tanθ

Formula used to calculate the value of e/m is e/m=( V λ / IL H2d)×107emu/gm

where ILd = 1.8×10.0 ×0.5 =9