e/m OF AN ELECTRON

Aim: To determine the specific charge (charge to mass ratio (e/m)) of an electron using
Thomsons method.
Apparatus: Thomsons experimental set up, two similar short bar magnets, magnetic compass,
stop watch, vibration magnetometer, voltmeter etc...
Figure:

Nature of graph:

Procedure: The apparatus is oriented in such a way that the cathode ray tube is along the
magnetic meridian. The tube switched on and the spot on the screen is focused with optimum
intensity. The voltage of the vertical deflecting plates is set to zero, so that the spot is at zero (if
not zero correction has to be applied). Now two bar magnets are placed on either sides of the
CRT on the platform such that N-pole of the one magnet and S-pole of another magnet facing
symmetrically at equal distance from the axis of the CRT. The spot shift in Y-direction. The
vertical deflection Y of the spot is noted. The distanced from the CRT and the center of magnet
is noted. The voltage v is applied and slowly increased till the spot comes to the original
position. The voltage v required to nullify the deflection is noted.
The magnetic field due to the individual magnets is calculated by the formula
B=

o 2 M
4 d3

14 Dept. of Physics HPPC Govt. First Grade College Challakere -577522

e/m OF AN ELECTRON
Where M is magnetic moment of the magnet.
The field at the center of CRT due to both the magnets is Bo=B1+B2.
(Assume that the two bar magnets are short and identical)
The experimental is repeated by increasing the distance d in regular steps. In each case YV/Bo2
is calculated.
2
A graph of YV against B o is plotted which will be a straight line. The slope the straight line is

found.
e
YV
=K

The value of e/m is calculated using m

106
B 2o

( )

=K slope 106 C/kg

Where K is constant of the tube
Observations:
I)
To find M:
a) Mass of the magnet W= ____________kg.
b) Length of the magnet L=____________m.
c) Breadth of the magnet B=___________m.
2

Moment of inertia of the magnet, I =

Magnetic moment ,
Where

BH

M=

W (L + B )
=____________ Kg/m2
12

4 2 I
2
2
T B H = _________A m

= 0.38 10-4 T. (horizontal component of the earths magnetic field) and T is the

period of oscillation of the magnet. This is determined using vibration magnetometer.

II)

Determination of period of oscillation (T):

Trial
no.

Time for 10 oscillations t

Sec

Period T=t/10 Sec

15 Dept. of Physics HPPC Govt. First Grade College Challakere -577522

e/m OF AN ELECTRON
1
2
3
Mean T = _________Sec
2
The tube constant K= 112 (for built in tube) and K=0.005 (for tube fitted for
separate unit)
III)
Trial
no.

T=To find YV/Bo2

d in m

Y in
m

V in
volts

YV

B2

7 o

B o=

(4 M ) 10
d3

YV/
B 2o

2
(YV/ B o

)mean

Calculations:
The value of e/m is calculated using the formula
e
YV
=K

106=K slope 106=__________C/kg.

m
B 2o

( )

Result: Specific charge of an electron (e/m) using Thomsons method is found to be

=_______________C/kg.
16 Dept. of Physics HPPC Govt. First Grade College Challakere -577522

e/m OF AN ELECTRON

17 Dept. of Physics HPPC Govt. First Grade College Challakere -577522