The Charge to Mass Ratio

Cody Dianopoulos Mac Eder Margaret Bonnell Josh Streger January 19, 2013
Abstract In 1897, J.J. Thomson became the rst man to observe the charge to mass ratio using the apparatus he designed, which is the same apparatus used in this experiment. Using a large magnetic eld (created from the Helmholtz Coils), a current can be created from cathode rays (beams of electrons), which can be measured to nd out the charge to mass ratio of 2 the electron itself. Using classical variables, since mv = eV and Bve = 2 2 mv e 2V , it follows algebraically that m = B 2 r2 , where B is the magnetic eld r 8 0NI created by the Helmholtz coil given by B = R = 0.000535I for the coil 125 used in the experiment. Along with the fact that V = 177.5V = const. in e 109 this apparatus, the equation can be rearranged to nd that m = 1.24 . (Ir )2 Using dierent values for current I , the cathode ray formed a radius r, two data points (I, r) were collected: (4.4A, 0.02m) and (5.4A, 0.015m). From e these points, the predicted values of m were calculated and averaged to 11 C e yield m 1.745 10 kg . Comparing the calculated value with the actual C value, 1.76 1011 kg , yields a very small 0.85% percent error. The cause of error is mainly dedicated to the lack of precision in the technology, as it was necessary to estimate when measuring the radius of the cathode rays path. From these results, it can be veried that the value of the charge C . to mass ratio for an electron is 1.76 1011 kg