Q.Cathode rays are group of
(A) electrons
(B) protons
(C) neutrons
(D) atoms
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Electron Emission
Electron emission is the general process by which free electrons, normally trapped inside a metal by an attractive potential (surface) barrier set up by the metal's positive nuclei near its surface, are given enough extra energy to cross that barrier and leave the surface altogether. Inside any metal, the outermost-shell electrons are loosely bound and move about freely and randomly even at room temperature, but this freedom is confined to the interior -- an electron reaching the surface is pulled back by the attraction of the nearby positive nuclei, and only electrons that acquire sufficient additional energy from some outside source can actually escape.
Four distinct types of electron emission are recognised, classified by the form of energy supplied. Thermionic emission heats the metal (for example, a filament in a vacuum tube) so that its surface electrons gain enough thermal energy to escape; this is the electron source in cathode-ray tubes, electron microscopes and X-ray tubes. Field emission applies a very strong external electric field directly across the metal surface, mechanically pulling free electrons out through the barrier without any heating at all; this is exploited in field-emission scanning electron microscopes and field-emission displays. Photoelectric emission shines electromagnetic radiation of a suitable frequency on the metal, transferring photon energy directly to individual free electron …
The deflection of cathode rays in electric and magnetic fields reveals what kind of charged particle actually makes up the beam. …
Cathode rays are a beam of electrons → option (A).
Cathode rays are produced in a discharge tube at low pressure and travel from the cathode toward the anode. They were shown by J. J. Thomson to be deflected by electric and magnetic fields in a way that identifies them as a stream of negatively charged p …
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.Cathode rays are group of (A) electrons (B) protons (C) neutrons (D) none of these
›Reveal solutionSolution
Cathode rays are a stream of negatively charged particles — electrons — emitted from the cathode.
In a discharge tube at low pressure, rays travel from the cathode to the anode. J. J. Thomson showed by their deflection in electric and magnetic fields that these rays are negatively charged particles with a very large charge-to-mass ratio, inde …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Emission of electrons by the absorption of heat energy is called ________ emission.(a) field(b) thermionic(c) photoelectric(d) secondary
›Reveal solutionSolution
Electron emission driven by heating a metal surface is called thermionic emission, distinct from photoelectric (light-driven) or field (strong-electric-field-driven) emission.
Working
Electrons can be emitted from a metal surface by supplying energy in different forms:
- Thermionic emission -- electrons gain enough energy to escape by being heated (thermal energy), as in the heated filament/cathode of a vacuum tube or CRT.
- Photoelectric emission -- electrons are emitted when light of sufficient frequency falls on the surface.
- Field emission -- electrons are pulled out by a very strong external electric field. …
- CBSE 2024Set A1 markMCQQ.Cathode rays are group of (A) electrons (B) protons (C) neutrons (D) atoms
›Reveal solutionSolution
Cathode rays are a beam of electrons → option (A).
Cathode rays are produced in a discharge tube at low pressure and travel from the cathode toward the anode. They were shown by J. J. Thomson to be deflected by electric and magnetic fields in a way that identifies them as a stream of negatively charged p …
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Emission of electrons by the absorption of heat energy is called ________ emission.(a) Thermionic(b) Photo electric(c) Secondary(d) Field
›Reveal solutionSolution
Electron emission triggered specifically by heat absorption is called thermionic emission, distinct from photoelectric (light-triggered), secondary (particle-impact-triggered), or field (strong-field-triggered) emission.
Working
Different mechanisms can supply the energy needed for electrons to escape a metal surface (overcoming its work function):
- Thermionic emission: electrons are emitted when the metal is heated, giving them enough thermal kinetic energy to escape (used in vacuum tube cathodes, CRTs).
- Photoelectric emission: electrons are emitted when light (photons) of sufficient frequency falls on the metal surface. …
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The charge of cathode ray is :(a) neutral(b) positive(c) not defined(d) negative
›Reveal solutionSolution
J.J. Thomson's experiments on cathode rays (deflection in electric and magnetic fields, and charge-to-mass ratio measurement) established that they are streams of negatively charged particles — electrons.
Working
Cathode rays are streams of particles emitted from the cathode in a discharge tube at low pressure. J.J. Thomson's classic experiments showed that:
- Cathode rays are deflected towards the positive plate in an external electric field, and their deflection in a magnetic field follows the pattern expected for negatively charged particles. …
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