K1-11: CATHODE RAY TUBE - DEFLECTION BY CURRENT

ID Code: K1-11
Purpose: Demonstrate visually the force between two parallel currents.
Description: This is a visualization of the force between two current-carrying wires. The discharge tube produces an electron beam moving from left to right, which can be seen on the fluorescent screen inside the tube. Activating an electric current along the top of the discharge tube (parallel to the electron beam) deflects the electron beam up or down. The current in the outside wire can be reversed to verify that the force is a vector. The photographs above show the displacement of the beam when the positive current in the wire is running (a)left-to-right, at left above, and (b) right-to-left, at right above. This is a small effect; a picture with no current in the wire is reproduced at the bottom for reference. Using the switch to turn the current ON and OFF while watching the beam shows the effect VERY clearly.
Availability: Available