Behold, the electron is discovered! Take young scientists on a journey back through time to examine JJ Thompson's famous experiment using a Crooke's tube. Pupils manipulate the charge on the apparatus' horizontal plates, observe cathode rays, and select different metals for the electrodes.

Concepts

charged particles, positive charges, negative charges, electrons, voltage

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Plan an investigation of the three metals used as electrodes in the interactive where learners determine which appeared to produce the best results in the experiment
• Have the class discuss how Thompson was able to prove the existence of the electron through this experiment
  

Classroom Considerations

• Students should be familiar with atomic structure to get the most out of the resource
  

Pros

• Interactive includes many applications, including atomic structure, history of chemistry, and properties of elements
• The resource is very responsive to changes in the settings and executes the changes smoothly
  

Cons

• None