12.1.3

Electron Specific Charge

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Specific Charge of the Electron

Specific charge is a measure of charge per unit mass.

Specific charge

  • Specific charge is the charge per unit mass of a charged particle.
  • The equation for specific charge is specific charge = Qm\frac{Q}{m}.
  • The units for specific charge are Ckg-1.

Specific charge of the electron

  • When talking about the electron, the equation becomes:
    • specific charge = eme\frac{e}{m_e}.

Thomson's experiment

  • Thomson measured the specific charge of the electron before we knew the charge or the mass.
  • He performed an experiment which made use of an electric field and measured the deflection of the electrons.
    • The deflection allowed him to show that the electrons had a negative charge and a finite mass.

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1Measurements & Errors

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3Waves

4Mechanics & Materials

5Electricity

6Further Mechanics & Thermal Physics (A2 only)

7Fields & Their Consequences (A2 only)

8Nuclear Physics (A2 only)

9Option: Astrophysics (A2 only)

10Option: Medical Physics (A2 only)

11Option: Engineering Physics (A2 only)

12Option: Turning Points in Physics (A2 only)

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