THERMIONIC EMISSION

Thermionic is the escape of the electrons from the surface of a very hot wire.

Cathode rays

Cathode rays are stream of electrons emitted from a heated cathode (a negative terminal).

The positive terminal (the anode) attracts the electrons from the cathode. The cathode is heated to
increase the energy of the electrons in the cathode. The process of emitting electrons from a heated
cathode is called thermionic emission.

If there is a hole in the anode, a beam of electrons shoots trough.The whole arragement is then
called an electron gun.

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DEFLECTING THE BEAM

An electron beam is equivalent to an electric current, but without the wire. It can be deflected by
electric charges or by magnetic fields. Use Fleming’s left-hand rule (motor effect).

Remember: Fleming’s left-hand rule uses convectional current, which flows from + to –

CURRRENT DIRECTION

1. Convectional Current-Direction from + to – round the circuit.

2. Electron Current-Direction from – to + round a circuit.

In this diagram, the metal plates are charged, attracting the electron beam towards the positive
plate and repelling it away from the negative plate.

Why vacuum?

1. Avoid the electrons to collide with air particles.

2. Avoid the hot filament to burn up.

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CATHODE RAY OSCILLOSCOPE (CRO)

C.R.O makes use of the following three processes:

(1) Thermionic emission

(2) Deflection of electron beam by the electric and magnetic fields.

(3) Florescence produced by the electron beam on a fluorescent screen.

Where the beam hits the screen, the coating on the screen absorbs the energy from the electrons
and releases the energy as light-(a dot appears on the screen).

CRO consists of a long hollow evacuated glass tube containing the three main components:

(i) Electron gun

(ii) Deflection system

(iii) Fluorescent screen

Two sets of metal plates are used to deflect the beam.

(i) Y-plates: Moves the beam in vertical direction.

(ii) X- plates: Moves the beam in horizontal direction.

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By controlling the voltages on the X-plates and Y-plates, the dot can be moved to any position on the
screen.

Uses of CRO:

1. It is used in televisions as a picture tube.

2. To measure short time interval.

3. To check the waveform of varying electrical signal.

4. To measure Voltage

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 Measuring with an oscilloscope

(a) Measuring peak voltage

The gain control is set at 5V/cm. This means that the spot is deflected 1 cm vertically for every 5
volts across the Y-input terminals. The peak voltage is represented by the distance marked
‘amplitude’ on the waveform. As the amplitude is 2.0 cm.

Peak voltage = 2.0 cm X 5V/cm

Peak voltage = 10.0 V

(b) Measuring time and frequency

The timebase control is set at 10 ms/cm. This means that the spot takes 10 milliseconds (0.00s) to
move 1 cm horizontally. As the horizontal peak-to-peak distance is 4.0 cm:

Peak-to-peak time(T) = 4.0 cm X 10 ms/cm = 0.04 s

This is the time taken for the spot to trace out one complete cycle of the waveform. It is known as
the period(T).

So: number of traced out per second = 1/004=25

So: frequency(f) = 25 Hz

Frequency= 1/T

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