E by M of Electron
E by M of Electron
E by M of Electron
BY
18501510-001
PHYS-308(Electronics Lab)
BS-Physics (A)
Submitted To
Dr.Tahir Iqbal
Department of Physics
UNIVERSITY OF GUJRAT
1. Title of Experiment:
To determine the e/m of an electron
2. Abstract:
The objective of this experiment is to demonstrate how the charge to mass
ratio of an electron can be determined by allowing a current through an apparatus known
as the Helmholtz Coil. It is known that a current running through a solenoid creates a
magnetic field. The Helmholtz Coil set up is roughly based on this principle. A magnetic
field produced by Helmholtz coils is used to deflect electrons into circular paths whose
radii are known. By knowing the energy of the electrons and the magnetic field strength,
the ratio of the charge to mass (e/m) of the electron is determined.
3. Motivation:
It is not so much the purpose to calculate it; historically, it was this ratio
that was measured experimentally by Thomson in 1897 before the charge was measured.
Then in 1909, Millikan measured the charge of the electron, and from the ratio, the mass
of the electron was finally determined. Many particle detectors (both historic and current)
work on similar principle, using magnetic field to deflect incoming particles or those
generated within the chamber, so that only their e/m ratio can be directly measured-more
complete characterization requires information inferred from other considerations.
It has great historical significance, too. Using e/m experiment J.J Thomson was able to
conclude that cathode rays consist of much lighter particles than atoms, paving the way to
classical atomic theory.
4. Introduction and theory:
This experiment measures e/m, charge to mass ratio of the
electron. This ratio was measured by J.J. Thomson in 1897. He won a noble prize for his
study of electrons. In the present experiment a beam of electrons is accelerated through a
known potential, so the velocity of the electrons is known. A pair of Helmholtz coils
produces a uniform and measureable magnetic field at right angles to the electron beam.
This magnetic field deflects the electron beam in a circular path. By measuring the
accelerating potential, the current to the Helmholtz coils, and the radius of the circular
path of the electron beam, the ratio e/m is calculated.
Measuring separately the electric charge (e) and the rest mass (m) of an electron is a
difficult task because both quantities are extremely small (e = 1.602×10-19 coulombs, m =
9.1093897×10-31kilogram. Fortunately, the ratio of these two fundamental constants can
be determined easily and precisely from the radius of curvature of an electron beam
traveling in a known magnetic field. An electron beam of a specified energy, and
therefore a specified speed, may be produced conveniently in an e/me/m apparatus. The
central piece of this apparatus is an evacuated electron-beam bulb with a special anode. A
known current flows through a pair of Helmholtz coils and produces a magnetic field.
The trajectory of the speeding electrons moving through the magnetic field is made
visible by a small amount of mercury vapor.
An electron moving in a uniform magnetic field travels in a helical path around the field
lines. The electron's equation of motion is given by the Lorentz relation. If there is no electric
field, then this relation can be written as
Where FB is the magnetic force on the electron, −e = -1.6×10-19 coulombs is the electric charge
of the electron, v is the velocity of the electron, and B is the magnetic field. In the special case
where the electron moves in an orbit perpendicular to the magnetic field, the helical path
becomes a circular path, and the magnitude of the magnetic force is
FB = evB …………………………….(2)
Recall from Physics 6A that an object traveling around a circle experiences a centripetal force.
For an electron of mass m moving at speed v in a circle of radius R, the magnitude of the
centripetal force FC is