7.

Cathode Rays and Cathode Ray Tube

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 of a
Television tube (T.V tube)
d) Explain the uses of a Cathode Ray Oscilloscope.
e) Solve problems involving Cathode Ray Oscilloscope.
Cathode Rays
They are streams of high velocity electrons emitted from the surface of a
metal when a cathode (negative electrode) is heated inside a vacuum tube by
thermionic emission. Electrons are able to leave the metal surface because
they gain enough kinetic energy to break loose from the force of attraction of
the nuclei.
Thermionic emission is the process of emitting electrons from a metal surface
due to heat energy. See the figure below:

Thermionic Emission

Before the heater current is switched on, no current is

Registered by the milliammeter. When the switch is put on, the cathode is
heated and emits electrons which complete the gap between the electrodes
and a current is registered at
The milliammeter.

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Production of cathode ray

In the above discharge tube electrons produced at the cathode by thermionic

emission are accelerated towards fluorescent screen by an anode of an extra
high tension (EHT) source. The tube is evacuated so that the emitted
electrons do not collide with air molecules which would ionise them making
them lose kinetic energy. Ionisation is a process where electrons are
completely removed from atoms of an element. The cathode is coated with
barium and strontium oxides to give a ready and continuous supply of
electrons.
Properties of Cathode Rays
i. They travel in a straight line in absence of magnetic or electric fields.
Hence form sharp shadows of objects put on their way.

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 ii.) Cathode rays cause fluorescence in some substances e.g., zinc
sulphide (phosphor).
iii) They possess kinetic energy. The kinetic energy of the emitted
electrons is converted into light energy by a process called
fluorescence. This is the main reason why the screen is not heated.
iv) They are charged because they are deflected by both electric and
magnetic fields (not waves).
v) The path of cathode rays in a magnetic field is circular so that the
force acting on them is perpendicular to both the magnetic field and
the direction of current.

Vi) Cathode rays have momentum and energy given by MeV and
1 2
Me V
respectively
2

Kinetic energy of the electron =work done by the electric field on the electron
1 2
Me V =eV
(vii) Cathode rays produce x-rays when they strike a metal target.
2

(viii) Cathode rays slightly ionize gases.

(ix) Affect photographic papers.

Cathode Ray Oscilloscope (C.R.O.)

It is an electrical instrument used to display and analyze wave forms as well
as to measure electrical potentials i.e., voltages that vary with time.
It consists of the following parts;
(a) Electron gun.
(b) Deflecting system.
(c) Display system

3
 Electron Gun
(a) It produces an electron beam which is highly a concentrated stream of
high-speed electrons.
(b) It has the following components;
- Cathode
- Cylindrical grid
- Two anodes
Function of Cathode
To emit electrons by thermionic emission (when heated). It is coated with
oxides of thorium and strontium (the two are preferred because they have low
work functions hence can emit electrons easily)
Function of Cylindrical Grid
 Controls the rate of flow of electron hence the brightness of the spot on
the screen.
 The negative voltage on grid can be varied to control the number of
electrons reaching the anode.
 If the grid is made more negative with respect to the cathode, the
number of electrons per second passing through the grid decreases and
the spot becomes darker. The effect is reversed if the grid is made more
positive in potential with respect to the cathode.

Anodes
 The two anodes have positive potentials relative to cathode. Anode 1 is
at a higher potential than anode 2. The difference in potential between
the two anodes creates an electric field. The electric field converges the
diverging beam from anode 2.
Functions
a) Attract electrons from cathode.
b) They accelerate the electrons by providing enough energy to cause
emission of light as they hit the screen.
c) They focus electron beam by converging electrons to a sharp point on
the screen.
d)
Deflecting System
Function of the deflection system
To determine position of electron beam on the screen
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 Types of deflections
(I) Vertical deflection (by Y-plate)
(ii) Horizontal deflection (by X-plate)

Vertical deflection (Y-plates)

It deflects electron beam vertically across the screen in the following ways
when the time base (X plates) is switched off; When d.c. potential across the
two plates is zero a spot is produced on the screen i.e., no deflection. When
d.c. voltage is applied across the y-plate with top plate positive the electrons
are deflected upwards and as pot therefore appears on the upper part of the
screen. When lower plate is positive as pot appears on the lower part of the
screen. If a.c. voltage is applied cross y plate the spot oscillates up and down
depending on frequency such that what is seen on the screen is a vertical
straight line if the frequency is very high.

Horizontal deflection (X-plates)

X-plates are internally connected to the time-base circuit, which applies a
saw-tooth voltage to the x-plates. The voltage increases uniformly to a peak
(sweep) and drops suddenly (fly back). The speed with which the electron
beam is “sweep” can be adjusted with the help of the time base knob.
When a d.c. voltage is applied to the input (Y-plates) of the cathode ray
oscilloscope and the time base on, then the horizontal line is seen to move
toward the positive plate.

When an a.c voltage is applied to the input of a CRO and time base on, then
due to interaction of the saw-tooth voltage at the X-plates and a.c. voltage at
the y plates, a ‘sine- curve’ is seen on the screen. The purpose of time- base is
to move electrons across the screen at a particular speed enabling the study
of variation between voltages with time.

Display System (screen)

Inside of the screen is coated with phosphor (zinc sulphide) which fluoresces
or glows when electrons strike it hence producing a bright spot on the screen.
The inside of the tube is coated with graphite which has the following
functions;
Earthing – conduction of electrons to the earth.
It is used to shield the beam from external electric field.


It accelerates electrons towards the screen since it is in the same



potential as the anode.



Uses of CRO
 It is used as a voltmeter.
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  Time base of switched off, the x-plates earthed and the voltage to be
measured connected across the y-plates. The voltage is calculated using
the formula:
Voltage = displacement × sensitivity (volts per division)

Advantages of CRO over voltmeter

 Can measure large voltages without being destroyed.
 It responds instantaneously unlike ordinary meter whose pointer is
affected by inertia.
 Can measure both a.c. and d.c. voltages.
 It has extremely high resistance and does not therefore alter current or
voltage in the circuit to which it is connected.
 Measuring the frequency of a wave (a.c signal).
The signal is fed into the y-plates of a C.R.O. with the time base on. The time
base control is then adjusted to give one or more cycles of the input signal on
the screen. The time T of the signal is then determined by relating the trace of
the signal on the screen with the time base setting. The frequency can be
calculated as f =
1
T

EXAMPLES
1.The figure below shows a display of an a.c. signal on the CRO screen.
Determine the frequency, given that the time base setting is 200ms/div.

2. On the grid provided below, show the display on the CRO screen of an a.c.
signal, peak voltage 300v and frequency 50Hz when time base is on (Take-
gain at 100V/div, time base setting at 10ms/div).
300
Maximum vertical divisions=
100
¿3
1
T=
f

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 1
T=
50

Number of horizontal divisions per complete cycle.

T =0.02

0.02
¿ =2
0.01

3.A d.c. voltage of 50v when applied to the Y-plates of a CRO causes a
deflection of the spot on the screen as shown.
i) Determine the sensitivity of the Y- gain.
(ii) Show what will be observed on the screen if an a.c. of peak voltage 40v is
fed on to the Y-plates

4.The control knobs of CRO have been adjusted to get a bright electron ‘spot’
on the screen. Explain how you get the following traces:
(i) A horizontal line at the center.
(ii) A vertical line at the centre.
(iii) A sine curve
5. The time base on a CRO is set at 1 ms/cm and Y gain at 100v/cm. When an
alternating voltage is applied to the input terminals, the beak value of the sine
curve on the screen is 2.9cm. calculate:
(i) The amplitude of the ac voltage.
(ii) The frequency of the ac input signals, if two full waves are formed in
a length of 5cm on the screen.
6.The figure below shows the deflection of a spot by alternating voltage
signal.

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If the sensitivity is 30v/division. Find the voltage of the signal

TV Tube or Computer Monitor

In TV tube, magnetic coils (fields) are used instead of electric field because
they provide wider deflection to light the whole screen.
The tube has two tiny plates which combine to light the entire screen instead
of just a line.
In a colour–TV 3 electron guns are used each producing one primary colour
(red, blue and green) screen is coated with different chemicals to produce the
colours.
Coils are mounted outside the neck of the tube so that they can be treated and
adjusted while set is being assembled and tested.

Differences between TV screen and

CRO
1. Deflection is by magnetic field Deflection is by electric field
2. It has two-timed base It has one time base
3. Electrons lights the whole screen Electrons produce a line or a dot
4. There are 625 lines per second There are 25 lines per second