Here's a breakdown:
* Cathode Ray Tubes: These are evacuated glass tubes with a cathode (negative electrode) and an anode (positive electrode). When a high voltage is applied, electrons are emitted from the cathode and travel towards the anode, forming a beam of cathode rays.
* Thomson's Experiment: Thomson used a cathode ray tube with magnetic and electric fields. He observed that:
* The beam was deflected by both electric and magnetic fields, indicating that it was made of charged particles.
* The direction of deflection indicated that the particles were negatively charged.
* By measuring the deflection, he could calculate the charge-to-mass ratio (e/m) of the particles.
* Significance: Thomson's experiment provided the first evidence for the existence of electrons, revolutionized our understanding of the atom, and laid the foundation for the development of modern physics.
