Exploring the Phenomenon of Cathode Rays

How were cathode rays produced using a discharge tube?

a) By applying a high voltage across the electrodes in a vacuum tube.

b) By heating a cathode in a vacuum tube.

c) By passing a current through a gas at low pressure in a vacuum tube.

d) By exposing the cathode to ultraviolet light.

Final answer:

Cathode rays are produced in a discharge tube by passing a current through a gas at low pressure in a vacuum tube.

Cathode rays, a fascinating phenomenon in the world of physics, are produced through a specific process using a discharge tube. The correct answer to how cathode rays are produced is by passing a current through a gas at low pressure in a vacuum tube. This method involves creating an environment where electrons are freed from atoms, leading to the emission of electromagnetic radiation known as cathode rays.

When a high voltage is applied across the electrodes in a vacuum tube filled with a rarefied gas, the electrons within the gas are excited and become free from their respective atoms. These electrons then get accelerated towards the positive end of the tube, where they collide with gas atoms, causing the emission of light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation.

This process aligns with the scientific explanation behind cathode rays and their production. By understanding the fundamentals of passing a current through a gas at low pressure in a vacuum tube, we can delve deeper into the nature of cathode rays and their role in physics.