The nature of cathode rays was extensively investigated by J.Hittorf (1869);William Crookes (1870);J.Perrin (1895)and J.J.Thomson (1897).
👉Some of the improtant properties are mentioned here-
1) The properties of the cathode rays are independent of the nature of the gas present in the discharge tube or the nature of cathode.
2)They travel in straight lines perpendicular to the surface of the cathode.
3) They possess momentum and kinetic energy by virtue of which they can cause a mechanical motion in small paddle wheels placed in their path of traveling.
4) They can produce ionisation in gases.
5) They can effect the photographic plates.
6) These are deflected by eletric and magnetic fields. The mode of deflection indicates that they consist of minute particles carrying negative charge. These particles are named electrons.
7) They can produce fluorescence when incident on the glass walls of the discharge tube.Zinc sulphide also becomes fluorescent when placed in the path of the cathode rays.
