Explain why the apparent inconsistent behaviour of cathode rays caused debate as to whether they were charged
particles or electromagnetic waves
•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.
Explain why the apparent inconsistent behaviour of cathode rays caused debate as to whether they were charged
particles or electromagnetic waves
•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.
Explain why the apparent inconsistent behaviour of cathode rays caused debate as to whether they were charged
particles or electromagnetic waves
•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.
Explain why the apparent inconsistent behaviour of cathode rays caused debate as to whether they were charged
particles or electromagnetic waves
•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.