J J Thomson and the Discovery of the Electron

Isobel Jessie Falconer

doi:10.1088/0031-9120/32/4/015

J J Thomson and the Discovery of the Electron

Isobel Jessie Falconer

School of Mathematics and Statistics

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Abstract

One experiment, more than any other, is often associated with the `discovery of the electron' in 1897. This is J J Thomson's determination of the mass to charge ratio (m/e) of cathode rays by deflecting them in magnetic and electric fields. Yet this experiment was performed two months after Thomson first announced that cathode rays were very small, negatively charged particles. So why was it important? I look at Thomson's route to, and conduct of, the experiment, and then at how his ideas were received.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	226-231
Number of pages	6
Journal	Physics Education
Volume	32
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-9120/32/4/015
Publication status	Published - 1999

Keywords

Electron
History of physics
History of science

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PhysicsEducation1997postprint
© 1997. IOPScience. Please cite: Isobel Falconer (1999), ‘J J Thomson and the discovery of the electron’ Physics Education, vol 32, pp226-231, http://iopscience.iop.org/0031-9120/32/4/015
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KW - History of science

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J J Thomson and the Discovery of the Electron

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J.J. Thomson and the Discovery of the Electron

CORPUSCLES, ELECTRONS AND CATHODE RAYS - THOMSON,J.J. AND THE DISCOVERY OF THE ELECTRON

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