Abstract
IN a note which appeared in NATURE of January 19, I indicated a method by which an approximate limiting value could be deduced for the density of the matter composing the kathode rays. The result arrived at was that this must be small compared with 10-15 grams per cubic centimetre. This estimate seems to be confirmed by results recently published by E. Riecke (Wied. Ann., 66, p. 954) on the reaction-pressure exerted on the movable kathode-vanes of an electric radiometer. A theoretical investigation leads the author to the result, that this pressure is equal to mu2, in the notation of my former note (m, mass per unit volume; u, velocity of the particles). His numerical results give an average of about ˙04 dynes per square centimetre for the pressure, and he deduces for u, theoretically, the value 9˙6 × 108, or, say, 109 roughly. Using these numbers, m comes out about 4 × 10-20.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MORTON, W. The Density of the Matter Composing the Kathode Rays. Nature 59, 368 (1899). https://doi.org/10.1038/059368a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/059368a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.