Cathode Rays
By the end of this topic, the learner
should be able to:
a) describe the production of cathode
rays;
b) state the properties of cathode rays;
c) explain the functioning of a
Cathode Ray Oscilloscope (C.R.O)
and a Television tube (TV tube);
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d) explain the uses of a Cathode Ray
Oscilloscope;
e) solve problems involving Cathode
Ray Oscilloscope.
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Content
a) Production of cathode rays, cathode
ray tube.
b) Properties of cathode rays
c) C.R.O and TV tubes
d) Uses of C.R.O
e) Problems involving C.R.O
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Cathode Rays
Arestream of electrons fast moving
electrons shot out from cathode to
anode.
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Production
Produced in the cathode ray tube (CRT) by
thermionic emission at the cathode.
High potential difference connected to the
anode accelerates the electrons towards
fluorescent screen.
The tube is highly evacuated to prevent
electrons from colliding with air molecules
which reduces their kinetic energy.
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The Cathode Ray Tube
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Properties
a) They travel in a straight line
This is evident by the sharp shadow cast on
the screen when Maltese cross made of
aluminium is placed between the cathode
and the fluorescent screen.
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Theshadow of the Maltese cross on the
screen.
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b) They cause certain substances to
glow or fluoresce.
When electrons hit phosphor
e.g. zinc sulphide screen to glow.
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c)They are charged.
They are negatively charged as they are
deflected by the magnetic and electric.
The nature of deflection shows that they
are negatively charged.
They also causes deflection of the
electroscope.
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Deflection beam in the electric field
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Deflection in the magnetic filed
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d)They posses kinetic energy
They can produce x-rays when
suddenly stopped by metal targets.
NB: The above characteristics
confirms that cathode rays are streams
of fast moving electrons.
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Cathode Ray Oscilloscope
Itis a development of the cathode ray
tube.
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The device consists mainly of a vacuum
tube which contains a cathode, anode,
grid , X&Y-plates, and a fluorescent
screen (see Figure below).
When the cathode is heated (by
applying a small potential difference
across its terminals), it emits electrons.
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A high potential difference between
the cathode and the anode
(electrodes), accelerates the emitted
electrons towards the anode,
forming an electron beam.
This beam to falls on the screen
causing it to glow producing a
bright visible spot.
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THE CRO
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THE CRO
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The cathode ray oscilloscope
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It
consist of the following basic parts:
a) The electron gun
b) Deflection system
c) The evacuated strong glass envelop.
d) A fluorescent screen
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The Electron Gun.
Electron gun provides, accelerates
and focuses electron beam towards
the fluorescent-coated screen.
It comprises of the cathode , the grid
and the anodes.
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The electron gun
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The thermally heated cathode emits
electrons in many directions.
The control grid provides an axial
direction for the electron beam and
controls the number and speed of
electrons in the beam.
The grid determines the brightness
of the spot on the screen.
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Because electrons are negatively charged,
a repulsion force is created by applying a
negative voltage to the control grid, to
adjust their number and speed.
A more negative voltage results in less
number of electrons in the beam and
hence decreased brightness of the beam
spot.
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The
positive voltage on the cylindrical
anodes focuses electrons on the screen.
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The Deflection System
Thedeflection system consists of two
pairs of parallel plates, referred to as
the vertical(Y) and horizontal (X)
deflection plates.
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One of the plates in each set is
permanently connected to the ground
(zero volt), whereas the other plate of
each set is connected to input signals or
triggering signal of the CRO.
The electron beam passes through the
deflection plates.
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Vertical Deflection
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Y –DEFLECTION
Positive voltage applied to the Y input
terminal causes the electron beam to
deflect vertically upward, due to
attraction forces.
While a negative voltage applied to the Y
input terminal causes the electron beam
to deflect vertically downward, due to
repulsion forces.
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Horizontal Deflection
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a positive voltage applied to the X input
terminal will cause the electron beam to
deflect horizontally toward the right.
While a negative voltage applied to the X
input terminal will cause the electron
beam to deflect horizontally toward the
left of the screen.
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The beam may be moved 'manually'
in the X- and Y-directions by
applying a d.c. or a.c. voltage to the
X- and Y-plates.
Alternatively it can be moved using
the time base system.
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Time baseis a special circuit for varying
voltage applied on the X –plate.
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The time base circuit applies a saw-tooth
waveform when connected to the X-
plates, as shown in Figure 2.
The beam is moved from the left-hand
side of the screen to the right during the
time that the voltage rises to a maximum,
and then is returned rapidly to the left as
the voltage returns to zero.
This fly-back time should be as short as
possible.
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The sweep of the spot across the screen
is adjusted using the time base control
Knob.
Time base controls the frequency of the
time base voltage and the speed with
which the spot moves across the screen.
The values of the time base ranges
between 10m/cm to 100ms/cm.
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The time per division (time/div)
setting lets you select the rate at
which the waveform is drawn
across the screen (also known as the
time base setting or sweep speed)
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a) Shows time base at a slower
frequency
b) Time base at a higher frequency.
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Speed of the dot on the screen.
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Connecting time base(X-input) and
Y – input simultaneously gives the
movement of the spot a two-
dimensional output
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THE SCREEN
The screen is coated with fluorescent
materials which glows on impact with
the electrons.
The inside is coated with graphite to:
a) Conduct electrons to Earth.
b) Provide shielding from external
electric fields
c) To accelerate electrons towards the
screen.
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Uses of CRO
Some of the uses are:
a) As voltmeter.
b) Determine the frequency of the
input signal.
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CRO as a voltmeter
The voltage to be measured is
connected to the Y –input(plate) and
time base is switched off.
The vertical displacement on the
screen is measured and voltage
given by:
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Voltage = Displacement × Sensitivity(volts/Division)
For the figure below, given that the Y-
gain is 50V/division(sensitivity)
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The CRO Display
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Solution
Voltage = Displacement ×
Sensitivity(volts/Division)/Y -gain
= 3 × 50
= 150V.
This value is also called peak
voltage.
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Advantages of CRO as a Voltmeter
a) Can measure both ac and dc
voltages.
b) Responds instantaneously.
c) Can measure large voltages without
getting damaged.
d) Does not interfere with circuit to
which it is connected as it does not
take in current.
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Determining the frequency of ac signal
The signal is fed into Y- plate of CRO with
the time base on.
One or more cycles of the input signal is
obtained by adjusting time base control.
The time base gives the period T of the
signal on the screen.
f 1
T
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Thefigure shows the input signal of Y –
input with time base on.
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Example
Inthe figure above, given that the
time base control is set at 10 ms/cm,
determine the frequency of the ac
signal on the screen.
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Solution
Number of cycles = 1
Period = no. division in a cycle × time base
setting
= 8 × 10 = 80 ms.
f 1
T
f 1 3 12.5Hz
80 10
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The television tube
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It has the following modifications:
a) The deflection of the spot is by
magnetic coils.
The magnetic field gives a wider
deflection.
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b)Incoming signal is fed into the grid.
The colour screen has three sets of
electron guns each represent each
primary colours.
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