Acceleration & Deflection of Electrons

Acceleration & Deflection of Electrons#

Background#

● Background Overview#

NOTE REGARDING THE HOMEWORK Spring 2026

The numerical question in this week’s homework references the “towards the CRT screen” direction as “X direction”. Throughout this current version of the lab manual, the direction towards the CRT screen will be instead listed as “Z direction” to match both the apparatus itself and the schematic of the tube in Fig. 91. Any X direction used will refer to the left-right direction when looking directly at the screen of the CRT (generally put to zero deflection and ignored today).

OVERALL GOALS

Use a cathode ray tube (CRT) to investigate:

  • How charged particles behave when they move through an electric field including:

    • Acceleration and deflection of electrons as they pass through uniform electric fields produced by “parallel-plate capacitors” within a CRT

    • Relationship of “electron-deflection distance” vs. “deflection voltage” (i.e. analog for deflection vs. E-field strength)

The instrument used in this experiment is a cathode ray tube [CRT]. When the filament of this device (also called an electron gun) is heated, electrons (mass \(M_e = 9.109 \times 10^{-31}\) kg) are freed and given an acceleration. The acceleration is received when the beam of electrons passes through a region of positive potential with respect to the cathode. Consider the schematic of the tube in Fig. 91.

../_images/2026_Spring_E-3_figures_v05.3.png

Fig. 91 Top) Schematic of the Electron Path in the CRT. Electron enters deflection parallel plates at Point A, exits at Point B, hits screen at Point C having been deflected distance \(D\) (in the vertical direction for today’s setup). Bottom) Electron beam path through the CRT; after being initially generated by the heater, accelerated toward the screen, brightened by the grid voltage and then focused into a narrow beam, the electrons are deflected up or down as they enter the blackened area of the CRT.#

The electrons receive an amount of kinetic energy given by

(112)#\[K = \frac{1}{2} M_e v^{2}= e\cdot V_\text{K}\]

where \(e\) is the charge of the electron and accelerating voltage \(V_\text{K}\) (often just \(V\), but changed here to \(V_\text{K}\) for the sake of consistency with the apparatus used today) is the potential difference between the heated cathode and accelerating anode. Thus the out-of-the-screen velocity in the Z direction (in line towards the phosphor-coated screen of the CRT) \(v_\text{Z}\) is given by

(113)#\[v_\text{Z}=\sqrt{\frac{2 e \cdot V_\text{K}}{M_e}}\]

Then, the accelerated electron beam passes between two parallel plates. If a potential \(V_\text{d}\) is applied between the plates, the electron beam will be deflected toward the positive plate by a force \(F_E = eE\) where \(E\) is the electric field between the plates and \(e\) is the electric charge. Thus the acceleration in the Y-direction (a.k.a. transverse direction, see Fig. 91) due to the deflection voltage \(V_\text{d}\) is given by

(114)#\[a_\text{Y} = \frac{F_E}{M_e} = \frac{e E}{M_e} = \frac{e\cdot V_\text{d}}{M_e d}\]

where \(d\) is the plate separation and \(M_e\) is the electron mass. Since the electric field between the plates is approximately uniform, the path of the beam will be parabolic in the region between the plates. This is illustrated from Point A to Point B in Fig. 91. The path is a case of an object undergoing uniform acceleration just like an object in projectile motion. After the beam leaves this space, it will continue in a straight line with a out-of-the-screen velocity \(v_\text{Z}\) and a vertical velocity \(v_\text{Y}\) until it strikes the screen at Point C.

The transverse velocity, i.e. in the Y or ‘deflection’ direction we are using today, is given by

(115)#\[v_\text{Y}=a_\text{Y} t\]

where \(t\) is the time during which the particle is accelerated as it passes through the plates of length \(l\). The time t is given by

(116)#\[t=\frac{l}{v_\text{Z}}\]

By combining the above (114), (115), and (116), we obtain the transverse velocity \(v_\text{Y}\) in terms of measurable quantities, namely

(117)#\[v_\text{Y}=\frac{e V_\text{d}}{M_e d}\left(\frac{l}{v_\text{Z}}\right)\]

Referring to Fig. 91, the actual on-screen deflection \(D\) from the axis is \(v_\text{Y}\) times the time of flight, \(t^\prime\), over the distance \(L\) from the end of the deflection plates to the screen. Assuming that \(L\gg l\), then the time of flight \(t^\prime = L/v_\text{Z}\). Since distance equals velocity × time, we get

(118)#\[D = v_\text{Y} t^\prime \rightarrow D = v_\text{Y}\left(\frac{L}{v_\text{Z}}\right)\]

As a result of combining everything we’ve seen so far:

(119)#\[D = \left(\frac{l L}{2 d V_\text{K}}\right)V_\text{d}\]

where we see that deflection is directly proportional to deflection voltage \(V_\text{d}\). Usually, the geometric quantities are held constant but it is interesting to take a look at the effect of these factors on the deflection.

With longer parallel plates there is more time for the electric field to act on the electron beam and cause deflection. Also, the closer the spacing between the deflection plates \(d\), the more intense the field for a given deflection voltage yielding a larger deflection. Finally, the deflection will increase as the accelerating voltage \(V_\text{K}\) is decreased. This reduces the velocity of the electrons and allows them to spend more time within the deflection field.

The visible spot you see on screen is the result of the energetic electrons releasing their kinetic energy as they impact phosphor atoms. A small portion of that energy is converted to visible light. Most of the energy just heats the screen!

Summing up, the assumptions made in this derivation include:

  1. The geometry of the deflection plates can be considered a ‘parallel-plate’ capacitor configuration. That is, the plates are relatively large and closely spaced. This implies that the electric field is uniform, vertical, and completely contained between the deflection plates.

  2. The distance to the screen is large compared to the horizontal size of the deflection plates (\(L\gg l\) in Fig. 91), so the electron path may be considered to be a straight line from the center of the deflection plate configuration to screen.

  3. The electron beam enters with an initial direction that is parallel to the deflection plates.

● Equipment#

  • Complete Properties of Electrons Apparatus (see Fig. 92)

    • List of experimental cases with their voltages on paper

    • Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), 19 in figure

      • 5 mm (major lines) grid pattern on end of CRT (1 mm minor tick marks) (shown later in Fig. 93)

    • Knobs for various electrical control. Note: Voltmeters are for the different sections on the apparatus (See the black-outlined sections on the apparatus for which voltmeters go for which knobs)

      • 1 Knobs for controlling X & Y position without changing voltmeter (for calibrating where you place the origin after zeroing the voltmeters with 12 & 13)

      • 3 Grid, Focus, Accelerating voltage selector (swap between which of 17, 20, 21 appears on top voltmeter 24)

      • 8 X & Y-direction deflection voltage selector (swap between which of 12, 13 appears on middle voltmeter 23)

      • 12 X-direction deflection voltage \(V_\text{X}\) adjustment knob

      • 13 Y-direction deflection voltage \(V_\text{Y}\) adjustment knob

      • 17 Grid voltage \(V_\text{G}\) adjustment knob

      • 20 Focus voltage \(V_\text{I}\) adjustment knob

      • 21 Accleration voltage \(V_\text{K}\) adjustment knob (acceleration in Z direction)

      • 23 Voltmeter display for 12 or 13 (depending on selection with 8)

      • 24 Voltmeter display for 17, 20, or 21 (depending on selection with 3)

../_images/E3_CRTControls_2026_v02.png

Fig. 92 Controls and parameters for the CRT of the Complete Properties of Electrons Apparatus.#

Experimental Procedure#

● Procedure Preview & Preliminary Setup#

OVERVIEW

  • Analyze the relationship of “electron-deflection distance” vs. “deflection voltage” of a uniform electric field by plotting and comparing to the expected slope based on the internals of your CRT.

  • In this experiment, you will:

    • Set up the grid/focus/acceleration voltages to those listed for each case on the paper inside the apparatus.

    • Set X/Y-deflection voltages to zero.

    • Move electron beam to the origin with the zeroing knobs.

    • Measure electron deflection distance in the Y-direction with the on-screen grid by varying deflection voltage.

    • Plot both cases on a single plot, \(D_\text{experimental}\) vs. \(V_\text{Y}\) (deflection voltage just in Y direction), compare between cases and to expected values.

    • Plot both cases on a single plot, \(D_\text{experimental}\) vs. ratio of \(V_\text{Y}/V_\text{K}\).

  1. All knobs, switches, displays are numbered and will appear as # in the following steps which correspond to those shown in Fig. 92.

    Extra Tab

    It may be helpful to open the image of the setup with all parts numbered in a separate browser tab or window for easier setup.

  2. Turn on the main power switch 10, and wait until the cathode warms up and a bright spot appears on the screen. If it doesn’t appear after ~30 s, an instructor can be of assistance; it’s likely a deflection or zeroing knob pushing the beam off-screen.

● Experimental Data Collection#

  1. FOR CASE 1 as listed on apparatus. Set the CRT voltage selector switch 3 to read the grid voltage \(V_\text{G}\). Adjust the grid voltage to the given value using the grid potentiometer 17 whose voltage appears on the top voltmeter display 24.

  2. Now set the CRT voltage selector 3 to read the focus voltage \(V_\text{I}\). Adjust the focus voltage to the given value using the focus potentiometer 20 whose voltage also appears on the top voltmeter display 24.

  3. Next, set the CRT voltage selector 3 to read the acceleration or cathode voltage \(V_\text{K}\). Set the accel. voltage to the given values using the accel. potentiometer 21 whose voltage also appears on the top voltmeter display 24. (\(V_\text{K, case 1} = 950\) V, \(V_\text{K, case 2} = 1100\) V)

  4. Set electrostatic deflection selector switch 8 to X-deflection \(V_\text{X}\), and set the X-deflection voltage potentiometers 13 to zero (0.0 V) which appears on the middle voltmeter display 23.

  5. Set electrostatic deflection selector switch 8 to Y-deflection \(V_\text{Y}\), and set the Y-deflection voltage potentiometers 12 to zero (0.0 V), again appearing on the middle voltmeter display 23.

  6. Then, use the ZERO X and Y potentiometers 1 to move the bright electron-beam spot to the bottom center of the screen grid (see Fig. 93). These knobs do not change the Electrostatic Voltages in 23; if the voltages do change, check you are in fact using the ZERO knobs 1, not 12 or 13. Make sure to view the CRT head-on so as to account for possible misalignment from the effects of parallax (since the grid is horizontally displaced from the glass of the CRT).

../_images/E3_CRT_Grid_2024.png

Fig. 93 Example of CRT grid and 4 mm spacings.#

  1. Ensure the deflection voltage switch 8 is set to read the deflection voltage \(V_\text{Y}\). Since we are only deflecting electrons in the Y-direction, we will refer to the deflection voltage as \(V_\text{Y}\) (i.e. \(V_\text{d} = V_\text{Y}\)).

  2. Create a common data table, recording the following CRT data and case setups:

    • \(d\) = spacing between plates listed on the apparatus

    • \(l\) = length of horizontal deflection plates (parallel plates)

    • \(L\) = distance from plates to screen of tube

    • For both cases, record the grid voltages \(V_\text{G}\), focus voltages \(V_\text{I}\), and accelerating voltages \(V_\text{K}\)

  3. Create a data table with columns for the deflection voltage \(V_\text{Y}\) and the deflection position \(D_\text{experimental}\) (e.g. \(0, 4, 8,\text{ … }48\,\text{mm}\)). \(D_\text{experimental}\) is based on the CRT grid and not to be calculated. At the start of each case, list the acceleration voltage to gelp clarify which case is which.

  4. Record the initial deflection voltage \(V_\text{Y}\) and calculate the ratio of the deflection voltage to the accelerating voltage (\(V_\text{Y}/V_\text{K}\)). Then record the deflection position on the screen (\(D_\text{experimental}=0\,\text{mm}\) at starting point) as well as your best estimate of your uncertainty in deflection position \(\delta D_\text{experimental}\). Then, slowly increase the Y-deflection voltage \(V_\text{Y}\) using the Y-deflection potentiometer 12. Move the bright spot 4 mm in the Y direction; record the deflection voltage \(V_\text{Y}\), ratio \(V_\text{Y}/V_\text{K}\), \(D_\text{experimental}\) and \(\delta D_\text{experimental}\). Continue this process every \(4\,\text{mm}\) up to \(48\,\text{mm}\) for a total of 13 data points. Double check: The acceleration voltage \(V_\text{K}\) and the horizontal deflection voltage \(V_\text{X}\) must be constant during this procedure.

  5. FOR CASE 2, repeat steps 3 to 12 above using Case 2 data listed on the apparatus including an acceleration voltage of 1100 V.

● Experimental Data Analysis#

○ Graphical Analysis — Deflection Voltage (Plot 1)#

  1. Plot both cases on the same graph (we want to see direct comparison):

    • Your values of deflection distance vs. deflection voltage (i.e. \(D_\text{experimental}\) vs. \(V_\text{Y}\)).

    • Reminder, \(D_\text{experimental}\) is not calculated, but rather just your stated 4 mm increments.

    • Draw a best fit line through each set of data points and show their equations on the single graph.

  2. For each case, determine the relationship between \(D_\text{experimental}\) and \(V_\text{Y}\). I.e. what is the slope \(m_\text{experimental}\) of the best-fit line and the slope’s uncertainty \(\delta m_\text{experimental}\) using the LINEST() function (reminders in Plotting in Excel)? Simplified from (119), we can see in the linear form of \(y=mx+b\):

    (120)#\[D_\text{experimental}=m_\text{experimental} V_\text{Y}\]

    Discussion Point: Slope?

    What does the slope represent?

  3. For each case, calculate the expected slope \(m_\text{expected}\) as predicted by the rearrangement of equation (119). Since we don’t know the expected \(D_\text{expected}\) for a given \(V_\text{Y,expected}\), we can instead use info from (119) to get

    (121)#\[m_\text{expected}=\frac{D_\text{expected}}{V_\text{Y,expected}}=\left(\frac{l L}{2 d V_\text{K}}\right)\]

    Discussion Point: Experimental vs. Expected?

    Compare your experimental with the expected slopes for each case. Do they agree; why/why not?

  4. For each case individually, determine the RMS in the following to use as an estimate of an overall theoretical position uncertainty from a case’s data set:

    a. Use all 13 of your experimental deflection positions \(D_\text{experimental}\) and their deflection voltages \(V_\text{Y}\) as well as the slope \(m_\text{experimental}\) of your best-fit line found in Step 15 to calculate the square root of the mean of the square difference between your data and the best fit line (i.e. you’re calculating the root mean square or RMS of the difference between what you claim the deflection position \(D\) is and what the best fit line of your data says the deflection position should be). For each of your 13 data points, you will have a squared difference of \((D - m V_\text{Y})^2\).

    b. From those 13 values, you can take the mean, then the square root of that mean value for a resulting single value:

    (122)#\[\sqrt{\text{mean}(\text{all 13 squared differences})} = \sqrt{\text{mean}((D_\text{experimental} - m_\text{experimental} V_\text{Y})^2)}\]

    where \(D_\text{experimental}\) are your claimed 4 mm incremented deflection positions, \(m_\text{experimental}\) is your experimental slope, and \(V_\text{Y}\) are your experimentally determined deflection voltages.

    Discussion Point: Positional uncertainties

    Compare this RMS value to your estimate of how well you can read displacements on the screen (i.e. comparing RMS as a theoretical position uncertainty to your experimental position uncertainties \(\delta D\))

○ Acceleration Voltage Analysis#

Discussion Point: Deflection Position vs. Acceleration Variations

The previous steps have focused on how the deflection of the electron beam depend on deflection voltage.

  • Now think through, how does the deflection of the electron beam depend on the acceleration voltage? Test in the following steps.

  1. With your CRT still on, change the deflection voltage \(V_\text{Y}\) until the beam is in the upper half of the screen.

  2. Using 3, select \(V_\text{K}\), and decrease the acceleration voltage with 21 as low as it will go. Now, watch the position on the screen as you increase the accelerating voltage to the maximum value. Did the beam go up or down, why?

○ Graphical Analysis — \(V_\text{Y}/V_\text{K}\) (Plot 2)#

  1. Graphical Analysis, Plot 2: Plot both cases on the same graph (we want to see direct comparison):

    • Your values of deflection distance vs. deflection voltage to acceleration voltage ratio (i.e. \(D_\text{experimental}\) vs. \(V_\text{Y}/V_\text{K}\)).

    • Draw a best fit line through each set of data points and show their equations on the single graph.

  2. For each case, determine the relationship between \(D_\text{experimental}\) and \(V_\text{Y}/V_\text{K}\). I.e. what is the slope \(m_\text{experimental,ratio}\) of the best-fit line and the slope’s uncertainty \(\delta m_\text{experimental,ratio}\) using the LINEST() function (reminders in Plotting in Excel)? Simplified from (119), we can see (again in the linear form of \(y=mx+b\)):

    (123)#\[D_\text{experimental}=m_\text{experimental,ratio} \frac{V_\text{Y}}{V_\text{K}}\]

    Discussion Point: Compare the Cases

    What do the slopes from each case represent? Are they the same, if so, why would that be?

  3. When you are finished with all cases, reset your experimental setup before leaving.

    CLEAN UP

    Please return your experimental station back to the way you found it or better:

    • Electron beam visible near center of screen

    • Power off

Post-Lab Submission — Interpretation of Results#

● Finalized Spreadsheets#

  • Make sure to submit your finalized data table (Excel sheet).

  • Please include the relevant plot(s) including (just two for this lab):

    • \(D\) vs. \(V_\text{Y}\) with both cases plotted on the same graph.

    • \(D\) vs. \(V_\text{Y}/V_\text{K}\) with both cases plotted on the same graph.

● Post-lab Writeup#

  • In a paragraph, summarize your error analysis. Be qualitative, not only quantitative.

    • What is the precision of your equipment?

    • What are possible sources of systematic (i.e. affecting accuracy) and random (i.e. affecting precision) errors?

    • How does the uncertainty (RMS) of your plotted data compare to your estimated position uncertainty on the screen? (i.e. are you over or underestimating single trial uncertainties?)

    • What are your measured uncertainties, and, based on these uncertainties, how do your final results change? (i.e. do your different measurement and slope uncertainties make your final results larger or smaller?)

      • If larger or small, are they more or less accurate to expected values?

  • In a paragraph, summarize the results you have determined, including both analysis methods. Consider:

    • What was the point of today’s lab; what did we aim to discover?

    • Do your experimental results (slopes) agree with the expected slopes as predicted by (121)?

    • Physically, what do your experimental slopes represent?

    • Does the full data set better represent the physical relationship we’re studying in this lab than your estimation of individual positions (be quantitative)? This is based on your values from the RMS step.

    • Physically, how is the electron beam deflected in the CRT?

    • If the accelerating voltage \(V_\text{K}\) is increased (e.g. Case 1 vs. Case 2), how do you expect the electrons’ beam deflection to change?

      • I.e. what does the accelerating voltage physically do to the electrons, and how does that effect affect the electrons’ path? Discuss using physical concepts.

    • For your \(D_\text{experimental}\) vs. \(V_\text{Y}/V_\text{K}\), how do your lines between the two cases compare (reminder, plotted on the same graph)? (Note: They should overlap somewhat, but why should they overlap?)

The Whiteboard#

../_images/ElecAccel_2025_Spring_01_v02.jpg

Fig. 94 Overview.#