1. Caroline Chisholm College
Physics
9.4 From Ideas to Implementation Contextual outline By the beginning of the twentieth century, many of the pieces of the physics puzzle seemed to be falling into place. The wave model of light had successfully explained interference and diffraction, and the wavelengths at the extremes of the visible spectrum had been estimated.
The invention of a pump that would evacuate tubes to 10-4 atmospheres allowed the investigation of cathode rays. X- rays would soon be confirmed as electromagnetic radiation and patterns in the Periodic Table appeared to be nearly complete. The nature of cathode rays was resolved with the measurement of the charge on the electron soon to follow. There was a small number of experimental observations still unexplained but this, apparently complete, understanding of the world of the atom was about to be challenged.
The exploration of the atom was well and truly inward bound by this time and, as access to greater amount s of energy became available,the journey of physics moved further and further in to the study of subatomic particles . Careful observation , analysis, imagination and creativity throughout the early part of the twentieth century developed a more complete picture of the nature of electromagnetic radiation and matter.
The journey taken into the world of the atom has not remained isolated in laboratories. The phenomena discovered by physicists have, with increasing speed, been channelled into technologies, such as computers, to which society has ever-increasing access. These technologies have, in turn, often assisted physicists in their search for further knowledge and understanding of natural phenomena at the sub-atomic level.
This module increases students’ understanding of the history, nature and practice of physics and the applications and uses of physics, the implications of physics for society and the environment, and the current issues, research and developments in physics.

2. Caroline Chisholm College
1. Increased understandings of cathode rays led to the development of television
Caroline Chisholm College
Physics

3. Caroline Chisholm College
Physics
Perform an investigation and gather first-hand information to observe the occurrence of different striation patterns for different pressures in discharge tubes
Using discharge tubes
A common piece of apparatus used for this investigation is a set of glass discharge tubes at different pressures, arranged side-by-side on a board. The tubes have been sealed after having had varying amounts of air pumped out of them (the more air pumped out, the lower the air pressure) Each tube contains an electrode at each end to allow the application of a large voltage, which is provided by an induction coil. The high voltage causes an electrical discharge through the air in the tube, causing the air to glow. Different discharge patterns are formed at different pressures.
Sample observations:
At 5% of atmospheric pressure, long, thin red-purple streamers appear between the two electrodes.
At lower pressure, these streamers give way to a soft red glow.
Upon further pressure reduction, the glow is broken into striations, bands of light and dark. The amount of dark space between the glowing bands increases with further reductions.
At 0.01% of atmospheric pressure, the dark space extends throughout the tube. At this very low pressure, the glass near the anode glows a yellow-green colour.

4. Caroline Chisholm College
Explain that cathode ray tubes allowed the manipulation of a stream of charged particles
Caroline Chisholm College
Physics
A cathode ray tube is a highly evacuated glass tube containing two electrodes. A high voltage applied across the electrodes causes cathode rays, streams of negatively charged particles (electrons), to flow from the cathode towards the anode, with little obstruction from the few remaining gas particles.
Structures built into or around the cathode ray tube allow the cathode rays to be manipulated. Further electrodes can be built into the cathode ray tube to create an electric field to change the path of the cathode rays. Magnetic fields can be applied to the cathode rays through the glass from outside the tube. Solid objects can also be placed inside the tube to block the path of the rays. (NSW HSC On-line)

5. Caroline Chisholm College
Identify that moving charged particles in a magnetic field experience a force
Caroline Chisholm College
Physics
A charged particle moving perpendicular to (across) a
magnetic field experiences a force which is perpendicular to
the motion and the field. Just like you have hundreds of times
in Lab Newton, use your right hand palm rule for positive
particles and your left hand for negative particles.
The force, F, on the charge is: – proportional to the size of the charge, q; – proportional to the velocity of the charge, v; – proportional to the magnetic field strength, B; and – proportional to the sine of the angle, q , between the velocity and the magnetic field
It is a maximum when q is 90° (velocity at right angles to the field), and zero when q is zero (velocity parallel to the field).

6. Caroline Chisholm College
Physics
Describe quantitatively the force acting on a charge moving through a magnetic field F =Bqv sinq
A proton travelling at 5.0 x 104 m s-1 enters a magnetic field of strength 1.0 Tesla at 90°. Determine the magnitude of the force experienced by the proton.
Solution: F =Bqv sinq = 1.0 * (1.6 x )* (5.0 x 104) * 1
= 8 x N
The path of a helium nucleus, travelling at 3.0 x 103 m s-1, makes an angle of 90° to a magnetic field. The electron experiences a force of 1.2 x N while in the field. Calculate the strength of the field.
Can you arrive at the solution B = 1.25 T ?

7. Caroline Chisholm College
Explain why the apparent inconsistent behaviour of cathode rays caused debate as to whether they were charged particles or electromagnetic waves
Caroline Chisholm College
Physics
Early experiments with cathode rays provided apparently inconsistent evidence about the nature of cathode rays, which seemed to behave both as waves and as streams of particles.
Heinrich Hertz performed an experiment in 1883 that appeared to show that cathode rays were not deflected by electric fields. His experimental results were incorrect, however his result was used as evidence that cathode rays were electromagnetic waves, just like light which is not deflected by electric fields.
J. J. Thomson performed an experiment that showed that a cathode ray beam was visibly deflected by an electric field. This was interpreted as indicating that cathode rays were charged particles.
In 1892, Hertz also showed that cathode rays penetrated thin metal foils. This was interpreted to mean that cathode rays were electromagnetic waves.
These apparently conflicting results arose from inadequacies in experimental design and the then current state of knowledge about the nature of atoms. The properties of cathode rays were clarified by later experiments. (NSW HSC On-line)

8. Caroline Chisholm College
Perform an investigation to demonstrate and identify properties of cathode rays using discharge tubes: – containing a maltese cross – containing electric plates – with a fluorescent display screen – containing a glass wheel and analyse the information gathered to determine the sign of the charge on cathode rays
Caroline Chisholm College
Physics
You performed an investigation that was planned by me. Make sure you can identify the safe work practices with induction coils and discharge tubes used during this investigation.
You gathered first-hand information by observing and recording the way cathode rays can be manipulated in various cathode ray tubes. A table would be a suitable format for recording your observations. List each feature of the various cathode ray tubes you use and describe how each demonstrates a property of cathode rays.
Analyse the information gathered by using your observations to justify inferences and conclusions about the properties of cathode rays.
Sample observations
The Maltese cross is placed in the path of the cathode rays, causing a clearly defined shadow at the end of the tube. This effect is used to infer that cathode rays travel in straight lines and are blocked by solid objects Pairs of electric plates cause the cathode rays to bend towards the positive plate. This shows that cathode rays are associated with negative charges A fluorescent screen shows that cathode rays can cause fluorescence. This demonstrates that cathode rays have energy. A fluorescent screen can also be used to trace the path of cathode rays being manipulated by other means A lightweight glass paddle wheel, able to rotate freely, is placed in the path of the cathode rays so that the rays strike one edge of the wheel at a tangent. The cathode rays cause the wheel to spin and move away from the cathode. This demonstrates that the cathode rays must have momentum, and therefore mass, and that they are emitted from the cathode. (NSW HSC On-line)

9. Identify that charged plates produce an electric field
Caroline Chisholm College
Physics
Identify that charged plates produce an electric field
An electric field exists in any region in which an electrically charged object experiences a force. The observation that charged plates exert a force on other charged objects brought close to them indicates that an electric field is associated with charged plates (NSW HSC On-line) + -
M. Edwards 2003

10. Caroline Chisholm College
Discuss qualitatively the electric field strength due to a point charge, positive and negative charges and oppositely charged parallel plates
Caroline Chisholm College
Physics + -
M. Edwards 2003
The strength of the electric field due to a point charge decreases with distance from the object. The direction of the field is defined as pointing radially away from a positive point charge and towards a negative point charge.
The closeness of the lines drawn to represent a field at any point indicates the electric field strength at that point. The stronger the field, the closer the lines.
The electric field between two oppositely charged parallel plates is uniform in strength and direction. The field direction is defined as at right angles to the plates and away from the positive plate. + -
M. Edwards 2003

11. Caroline Chisholm College
Describe quantitatively the electric field due to oppositely charged parallel plates
Caroline Chisholm College
Physics
Electric field strength, E, between two oppositely charged parallel plates is: – proportional to the potential difference, V, between the plates; – inversely proportional to the separation, d, between the plates; – the same at all points in the region between the plates; and – at right angles to the plates everywhere in the region between the plates. + -
M. Edwards 2003 d V
E = V/d , where E is electric field strength between two oppositely charged parallel plates, V is the potential difference between the plates in volts, and d is the distance between the plates in metres.

12. Caroline Chisholm College
Solve problem and analyse information using: F = B qv sin q, F=qE and E=V/d
Caroline Chisholm College
Physics

13. Caroline Chisholm College
Physics
Outline Thomson’s experiment to measure the charge/mass ratio of an electron

14. Caroline Chisholm College
Physics

15. Caroline Chisholm College
Outline the role of: – electrodes in the electron gun – the deflection plates or coils – the fluorescent screen in the cathode ray tube of conventional TV displays and oscilloscopes
Caroline Chisholm College
Physics
A television picture tube is essentially a cathode ray tube in which the cathode rays (beams of electrons) are focused onto a fluorescent screen to form a moving picture. The picture is formed by combining and synchronising the actions of horizontal and vertical magnetic fields, with modulation of the electron beam by the electron gun, in response to signals from the television station or video player.
The horizontal field causes the beam to sweep uniformly across the screen from one side to the other, then rapidly back to the start. The vertical field moves the beam down slightly for each successive sweep, filling the screen with a series of horizontal lines, until it reaches the bottom, then returning rapidly to the top. This process is repeated 50 or 60 times a second The intensity of the electron beam is modulated by the input signal to cause lighter and darker spots along each line on the fluorescent screen, forming the detail of the picture. The picture is constantly refreshed, giving the appearance of smooth motion. (NSW HSC on-line)
Use the topic link from the CCC Research sites page for the TV animations used in class
A cathode ray oscilloscope (CRO) uses cathode rays to form an image on a fluorescent screen of the waveform of a periodically varying voltage. This allows the waveform to be analysed for frequency, amplitude,irregularities, etc.
An internal variable time-base uses an electric field to make the beam sweep uniformly from left to right, then rapidly back to the start. The periodically varying voltage of the input signal makes the beam move up and down with the same frequency as the input signal. The glowing trace on the fluorescent screen forms a visual representation of the waveform of the input signal. (NSW HSC on-line)

16. Caroline Chisholm College
Physics

17. Caroline Chisholm College
Physics