J. J. Thomson is best known for his discoveries about the nature of cathode rays
ID: 584714 • Letter: J
Question
J. J. Thomson is best known for his discoveries about the nature of cathode rays. His other important contribution was the invention, together with one of his students, of the mass spectrometer, a device that measures the ratio of mass m to (positive) charge q of an ion. The spectrometer consists of two regions as shown in the figure. (Figure 1) In the first region an electric field accelerates the ion and in the second the ion follows a circular arc in a magnetic field. The radius of curvature of the arc can be measured and then the m/q ratio can be foand. After being accelerated to a speed of 1.39*105 m/s. the particle enters a uniform magnetic field of strength 0.800 T and travels in a circle of radius 35.0 cm (determined by observing where it hits the screen as shown in the figure). The results of this experiment allow one to find m/q. Find the ratio m/q for this particle.Explanation / Answer
Inside the magnetic field, magnetic force on the charge acts in a direction perpendicular to both magnetic field B and velociy v. This makes the charge to move in a circular path. So,
mv2/R = qvB
m/q = BR/v
m/q = (0.800T) * (35.0 * 10-2m) / (1.39 * 105m/s)
m/q = 0.00000201438
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