Cathode Rays

• 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 a
Television tube (TV tube);
d) explain the uses of a Cathode Ray
Oscilloscope;
e) solve problems involving Cathode Ray
Oscilloscope.
 Content
a) Production of cathode rays, cathode ray
tube.
b) Properties of cathode rays
c) C.R.O and TV tubes
d) Uses of C.R.O
e) Problems involving C.R.O
 Cathode Rays
• Are stream of fast moving electrons shot
out from cathode to anode.
 Production
• Produced in the cathode ray tube (CRT) by
thermionic emission at the cathode.
• High potential difference connected to the
anode accelerates the electrons towards
fluorescent screen.
• The tube is highly evacuated to prevent
electrons from colliding with air molecules
which reduces their kinetic energy.
The Cathode Ray Tube
 Properties
a) They travel in a straight line
• This is evident by the sharp shadow cast on
the screen when Maltese cross made of
aluminium is placed between the cathode and
the fluorescent screen.
• The shadow of the Maltese cross on the
screen.
b) They cause certain substances to
glow or fluoresce.
• When electrons hit phosphor e.g. zinc
sulphide screen to glow.
c) They are charged.
• They are negatively charged as they are
deflected by the magnetic and electric.
• The nature of deflection shows that they
are negatively charged.
• They also causes deflection of the
electroscope.
• Deflection beam in the electric field
• Deflection in the magnetic filed
d) They posses kinetic energy
• They can produce x-rays when
suddenly stopped by metal targets.
• NB: The above characteristics
confirms that cathode rays are streams
of fast moving electrons.
 Cathode Ray Oscilloscope
• It is a development of the cathode ray
tube.
• The device consists mainly of a vacuum
tube which contains a cathode, anode,
grid , X&Y-plates, and a fluorescent
screen (see Figure below).
• When the cathode is heated (by applying
a small potential difference across its
terminals), it emits electrons.
• A high potential difference between
the cathode and the anode
(electrodes), accelerates the emitted
electrons towards the anode, forming
an electron beam.
• This beam to falls on the screen
causing it to glow producing a bright
visible spot.
THE CRO
THE CRO
• The cathode ray oscilloscope
• It consist of the following basic parts:
a) The electron gun
b) Deflection system
c) The evacuated strong glass envelop.
d) A fluorescent screen
The Electron Gun.
• Electron gun produces, accelerates and
focuses electron beam towards the
fluorescent-coated screen.
• It comprises of the cathode , the grid and
the anodes.
• The electron gun
• The thermally heated cathode emits
electrons in many directions.
• The control grid provides an axial
direction for the electron beam and
controls the number and speed of
electrons in the beam.
• The grid determines the brightness of the
spot on the screen.
• Because electrons are negatively charged,
a repulsion force is created by applying a
negative voltage to the control grid, to
adjust their number and speed.
• A more negative voltage results in less
number of electrons in the beam and hence
decreased brightness of the beam spot.
• The positive voltage on the cylindrical
anodes focuses electrons on the screen.
 The Deflection System
• The deflection system consists of two
pairs of parallel plates, referred to as the
vertical(Y) and horizontal (X) deflection
plates.
• One of the plates in each set is
permanently connected to the ground
(zero volt), whereas the other plate of
each set is connected to input signals or
triggering signal of the CRO.
• The electron beam passes through the
deflection plates.
Vertical Deflection
 Y –DEFLECTION
• Positive voltage applied to the Y input
terminal causes the electron beam to
deflect vertically upward, due to attraction
forces.
• While a negative voltage applied to the Y
input terminal causes the electron beam to
deflect vertically downward, due to
repulsion forces.
Horizontal Deflection
• a positive voltage applied to the X input
terminal will cause the electron beam to
deflect horizontally toward the right.
• While a negative voltage applied to the X
input terminal will cause the electron beam
to deflect horizontally toward the left of the
screen.
• The beam may be moved 'manually' in
the X- and Y-directions by applying a d.c.
or a.c. voltage to the X- and Y-plates.
• Alternatively it can be moved using the
time base system.
• Time base is a special circuit for varying
voltage applied on the X –plate.
• The time base circuit applies a saw-tooth
waveform when connected to the X-
plates, as shown in Figure 2.
• The beam is moved from the left-hand side
of the screen to the right during the time
that the voltage rises to a maximum, and
then is returned rapidly to the left as the
voltage returns to zero.
• This fly-back time should be as short as
possible.
• The sweep of the spot across the screen
is adjusted using the time base control
Knob.
• Time base controls the frequency of the
time base voltage and the speed with
which the spot moves across the screen.
• The values of the time base ranges
between 10s/cm to 100ms/cm.
• The time per division (time/div) setting
lets you select the rate at which the
waveform is drawn across the screen
(also known as the time base setting or
sweep speed)
a) Shows time base at a slower frequency
b) Time base at a higher frequency.
Speed of the dot on the screen.
• Connecting time base(X-input) and Y
– input simultaneously gives the
movement of the spot a two-
dimensional output
 THE SCREEN
• The screen is coated with fluorescent
materials which glows on impact with
the electrons.
• The inside is coated with graphite to:
a) Conduct electrons to Earth.
b) Provide shielding from external electric
fields
c) To accelerate electrons towards the
screen.
 Uses of CRO
• Some of the uses are:
a) As voltmeter.
b) Determine the frequency of the input
signal.
 CRO as a voltmeter
• The voltage to be measured is
connected to the Y –input(plate) and
time base is switched off.
• The vertical displacement on the
screen is measured and voltage given
by:
Voltage = Displacement ×
Sensitivity(volts/Division)
• For the figure below, given that the Y-
gain is 50V/division(sensitivity)
The CRO Display
 Solution
Voltage = Displacement ×
Sensitivity(volts/Division)/Y -gain
= 3 × 50
= 150V.
• This value is also called peak
voltage.
 Advantages of CRO as a Voltmeter
a) Can measure both ac and dc voltages.
b) Responds instantaneously.
c) Can measure large voltages without
getting damaged.
d) Does not interfere with circuit to which
it is connected as it does not take in
current.
 Determining the frequency of ac signal

• The signal is fed into Y- plate of CRO with

the time base on.
• One or more cycles of the input signal is
obtained by adjusting time base control.
• The time base gives the period T of the
signal on the screen.
f 1
T
• The figure shows the input signal of Y –
input with time base on.
 Example
• In the figure above, given that the
time base control is set at 10 ms/cm,
determine the frequency of the ac
signal on the screen.
 Solution
Number of cycles = 1
Period = no. division in a cycle × time base
setting
= 8 × 10 = 80 ms.

f  1
T
f  1  3  12.5 Hz
80  10
The television tube
• It has the following modifications:
a) The deflection of the spot is by
magnetic coils.
• The magnetic field gives a wider
deflection.
b) Incoming signal is fed into the grid.
• The colour screen has three sets of
electron guns each represent each
primary colours.