e/m Measurement Lab

Ryan Dorendorf

Lab Partner: Wei Kang Lim

Date Performed: 9/20/13 and 9/27/13

Physics 360 Lab

Dr. Andrew Croll

Introduction:
Electrons are extremely small particles. This makes it impossible to make direct measurements
of their mass. But the mass of an electron is important information for finding other quantities such as
forces or energies. S this experiment is designed to calculate the ratio of charge to mass for an electron.
Thus, if you know the charge you are able to find the mass.
This lab consists of a bulb where the electrons can travel placed in between Helmholtz coils.
Inside the bulb there is an electron gun which uses a variable voltage to control the speed of the
electrons. The Helmholtz coils control the strength of the
magnetic field by a variable current.
The principle of the electron gun is that we apply
a voltage to create a potential difference between two
plates (the anode and cathode) which accelerates a beam
of electrons. The electron gun starts with the use of a
heater to emit electrons. Some emitted electrons then
pass through a small aperture in a grid around the heater
and travel down towards the anode. Once in between
the cathode and the anode the electrons are accelerated
with an energy equal to e*V, where e is the charge on an
electron and V is the potential. This energy is turned into
kinetic energy so we can say eV=1/2mv2. If we solve for v
Figure 1: The electron gun
we get Eq 1: v={2eV/m}1/2. They are accelerated because
https://bb.ndsu.nodak.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-2453023-dt-contentthe negative charge on the cathode repels the electrons
rid-10194314_2/courses/141-NDSU-4536/EP20_e-m_Manual.pdf
and the positive charge on the anode attracts the electrons.
Many of the electrons will be pulled off to the side and hit the anode but some will pass through the
hole and form the beam of electrons seen in the experiment.
Once the beam of electrons is shot through the hole in the anode, they are in a magnetic field
flowing perpendicular to their path. The magnetic field is created by the current flowing through the
Helmholtz coil on either side of the bulb. The amount they curve depends on how much current is in
flowing through the coils. This field creates a centripetal force on the electrons causing them to curl and
travel in a circular motion. This is called the Lorentz force, evB which provides the centripetal force
mv2/r. From this we can get Eq.2: eB=mv/r.
We can use these two equations to relate charge to mass. It results in Eq. 3: e/m=2V/(r2B2). And with
this we simply need to calculate the Voltage we apply, the radius of the arc of the electrons path and the
value of the magnetic field. To find the magnetic field we get Eq 4: B = (0NI/a)(4/5)3/2.

Eq. 1

-This is the equation derived from setting the energy of the electron gun
due to the potential difference equal to the kinetic energy of the
electron.

Eq. 2

-We got this equation from the centripetal force cause by the magnetic
field.

Eq. 3
Eq. 4

-This is the equation used to calculate the magnetic field.

- This is the pivotal equation for this lab. It gives us the charge to mass
ratio.

Eq. 5

-This equation is used to

calculate percent difference.

Eq. 6

-This equation is used to find the error from

adding quantities

Eq. 7

-This equation is used to find the error from

multiplying quantities

Eq. 8

-This equation is used to find the average of our

measurements.

Procedure:
We followed the lab manual but these are a few
things that would have been nice to know.
First of all, make sure there are no magnets around
your experiment while you are aligning it and while you are
taking data. A hidden magnet could cause a good deal of
confusion.
After you get the coils aligned the rest of the lab is
pretty straightforward. You need to choose a voltage. The
manual says start with 200V. Then you just vary the current
and record the diameter of the electrons arc for a given
current. The measurement of the diameter is less precise
than the current reading and thus it is easier if you adjust
the current until the diameter is an easily recorded value
such as a whole number like 6cm, 7cm, etc. The beam of
electrons should illuminate the measurement device
enclosed in the bulb making it easy to read the value.

Figure 2: The experiment apparatus

https://bb.ndsu.nodak.edu/bbcswebdav/pid2453023-dt-content-rid-10194314_2/courses/141NDSU-4536/EP20_e-m_Manual.pdf

Another beneficial thing is to record the current at the same diameters for each voltage. This
will make it easier when doing comparisons and calculations later.
The manual states that the radius of the coil is 150mm. But this isnt exact so its important to
measure it yourself. To do this you will just have to measure both the inner and outer diameter of the
coil. Since measuring this yourself is prone to error it is crucial to take many measurements in different

ways. It would also help to have each partner do all the measurement separately to get the best
average.
Data/Results:
We took measurements of the inner and outer radii for the coil. We did this by making a
measurement at the top/left and at the bottom/right side of the coil then subtracting them and dividing
by 2 to get the radius. We traced the error using Eq. 5.

Inner Radius
Top
(cm)
37.6
36.7
29.9
38.9
33.9
32.6
49.5
34.7

error (dcm)
error
Bot error (dcm)
Diameter error (dcm)
Radius
(cm) e2
Top-Bot e3=e1+e2
e1
e4=e3/2
0.1
9.1
0.1
28.5
0.2
14.25
0.1
0.1
8.1
0.1
28.6
0.2
14.3
0.1
0.1
1.9
0.1
28
0.2
14
0.1
0.1 10.9
0.1
28
0.2
14
0.1
0.1
5.8
0.1
28.1
0.2
14.05
0.1
0.1
4.4
0.1
28.2
0.2
14.1
0.1
0.1 21.5
0.1
28
0.2
14
0.1
0.1
6.3
0.1
28.4
0.2
14.2
0.1
Average inner radius (cm) 14.1125
error: e5=SUM(e4)/8
0.1

Then we measured the outer radius the same way, and took the average of the two to get the
radius of the coil.

Outer Radius
Top
(cm)
43.4
39
38.1
31
40.4
35.7
34.3
36.1

error (dcm)
e6
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1

Average Radius
Error: e11=(e5+e10)/2

Bot
(cm)
12.2
7.5
6.7
0.6
9.54
4.3
2.7
4.7

error (dcm)
e7
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1

14.86125 cm
0.1 cm

Diameter
Top-Bot
31.2
31.5
31.4
30.4
30.86
31.4
31.6
31.4

0.148613 m
0.001 m

error (dcm)
e8=e6+e7

Radius

0.2
15.6
0.2
15.75
0.2
15.7
0.2
15.2
0.2
15.43
0.2
15.7
0.2
15.8
0.2
15.7
Average Outer radius (cm)
error: e10=SUM(e9)/8

error
e9=e8/2
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
15.61
0.1

Then we held the voltage constant at 200 and recorded currents and the respective diameter of
the electron beam. With the current we calculated the Magnetic field using Eq. 3. We just had to plug in
the number of turns N=130 5, 0 = 4*10-7, and our radius a=.148613.001m. We tracked the error
through using Eq. 7.

Voltage

200
1

% error =
1/200

error

% error

B = (0*N*I/(a))*(4/5)3/2

e1
e1/Current
0.96
0.01 0.010416667

e2 = 5/N
130 0.03846154

e3 = .001/a
0.148613 0.006728909

% error
e4 =
e1+e2+e3
0.000755099 0.055607114

1.08
1.24
1.38
1.5
1.74
2.02
2.42

130
130
130
130
130
130
130

0.148613
0.148613
0.148613
0.148613
0.148613
0.148613
0.148613

0.000849487
0.000975337
0.001085455
0.001179843
0.001368618
0.001588855
0.00190348

Current
A

% error 5
N

0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01

0.009259259
0.008064516
0.007246377
0.006666667
0.005747126
0.004950495
0.004132231

% error (.001)
a

0.03846154
0.03846154
0.03846154
0.03846154
0.03846154
0.03846154
0.03846154

0.11
0.1
0.09
0.085
0.08
0.07
0.06
0.05

error
Radius
e5
0.0025 0.055
0.0025
0.05
0.0025 0.045
0.0025 0.0425
0.0025
0.04
0.0025 0.035
0.0025
0.03
0.0025 0.025

0.054449707
0.053254964
0.052436824
0.051857114
0.050937574
0.050140943
0.049322679

r2 *B2

r
Diameter

0.006728909
0.006728909
0.006728909
0.006728909
0.006728909
0.006728909
0.006728909

Magnetic
Field

error
e6=e5/2
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125

% error
e7=e6/r
0.022727273
0.025
0.027777778
0.029411765
0.03125
0.035714286
0.041666667
0.05
Average

r2 *B2
1.72478E-09
1.80407E-09
1.92635E-09
2.12815E-09
2.22725E-09
2.29456E-09
2.27201E-09
2.26452E-09
2.08021E-09

% error
e8 = 2*e4 + 2*e7
0.156668774
0.158899414
0.162065483
0.163697178
0.166214228
0.173303719
0.183615219
0.198645358
error

error
e9 = e8*(e/m)
2.70219E-10
2.86666E-10
3.12194E-10
3.48372E-10
3.702E-10
3.97657E-10
4.17176E-10
4.49837E-10
3.5654E-10

Then we increased the Voltage to V = 250 and did the same thing.
% error =
250 1
B = (0*N*I/(a))*(4/5)^(3/2)
1/200
error
% error
% error 5
% error (.001)
N
a
Magnetic Field
e1
e1/Current
e2 = 5/N
e3 = .001/a
0.01
0.00877193 130 0.03846154 0.148613
0.006728909
0.00089668
0.01
0.007751938 130 0.03846154 0.148613
0.006728909
0.001014665
0.01
0.006756757 130 0.03846154 0.148613
0.006728909
0.001164111
0.01
0.00625 130 0.03846154 0.148613
0.006728909
0.001258499
0.01
0.005813953 130 0.03846154 0.148613
0.006728909
0.001352886
0.01
0.005102041 130 0.03846154 0.148613
0.006728909
0.001541661
0.01
0.004347826 130 0.03846154 0.148613
0.006728909
0.001809092
0.01
0.003676471 130 0.03846154 0.148613
0.006728909
0.002139448

Voltage
Current A
1.14
1.29
1.48
1.6
1.72
1.96
2.3
2.72

r2 *B2

r
Diameter
0.11
0.1
0.09
0.085
0.08
0.07
0.06
0.05

error
Radius
e5
0.0025 0.055
0.0025
0.05
0.0025 0.045
0.0025 0.0425
0.0025
0.04
0.0025 0.035
0.0025
0.03
0.0025 0.025

% error
e4 = e1+e2+e3
0.053962377
0.052942386
0.051947204
0.051440448
0.051004401
0.050292488
0.049538274
0.048866918

error
e6=e5/2
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125

% error
e7=e6/r
0.022727273
0.025
0.027777778
0.029411765
0.03125
0.035714286
0.041666667
0.05
Average

r2 *B2
2.43221E-09
2.57386E-09
2.74419E-09
2.86077E-09
2.92848E-09
2.91148E-09
2.94553E-09
2.86077E-09
2.78216E-09

% error
e8 = 2*e4 + 2*e7
0.1533793
0.155884771
0.159449964
0.161704424
0.164508802
0.172013548
0.182409881
0.197733836
error

error
e9 = e8*(e/m)
3.7305E-10
4.01226E-10
4.37561E-10
4.626E-10
4.81761E-10
5.00814E-10
5.37294E-10
5.65672E-10
4.69997E-10

Then we increased the Voltage to V = 300.

Voltage
Current A
1.28
1.48
1.68
1.78
1.9
2.16
2.52
3

300 1
error
e1
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01

% error =
1/200
% error
e1/Current
0.0078125
0.006756757
0.005952381
0.005617978
0.005263158
0.00462963
0.003968254
0.003333333

B = (0*N*I/(a))*(4/5)^(3/2)
N
130
130
130
130
130
130
130
130

% error 5
e2 = 5/N
0.03846154
0.03846154
0.03846154
0.03846154
0.03846154
0.03846154
0.03846154
0.03846154

a
0.148613
0.148613
0.148613
0.148613
0.148613
0.148613
0.148613
0.148613

% error (.001)
e3 = .001/a
0.006728909
0.006728909
0.006728909
0.006728909
0.006728909
0.006728909
0.006728909
0.006728909

Magnetic Field
0.001006799
0.001164111
0.001321424
0.00140008
0.001494467
0.001698974
0.001982136
0.002359685

% error
e4 = e1+e2+e3
0.053002948
0.051947204
0.051142828
0.050808425
0.050453605
0.049820077
0.049158702
0.048523781

r2 *B2

r
error
e5
0.0025
0.0025
0.0025
0.0025
0.0025
0.0025
0.0025
0.0025

Diameter
0.11
0.1
0.09
0.085
0.08
0.07
0.06
0.05

Radius
0.055
0.05
0.045
0.0425
0.04
0.035
0.03
0.025

error
e6=e5/2
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125

% error
e7=e6/r
0.022727273
0.025
0.027777778
0.029411765
0.03125
0.035714286
0.041666667
0.05
Average

% error
e8 = 2*e4 + 2*e7
0.151460441
0.153894409
0.157841213
0.16044038
0.163407211
0.171068726
0.181650736
0.197047562
error

r2 *B2
3.06627E-09
3.38789E-09
3.53598E-09
3.54065E-09
3.57349E-09
3.53598E-09
3.53598E-09
3.48007E-09
3.45704E-09

error
e9 = e8*(e/m)
4.64419
5.21377
5.58123
5.68064
5.83934
6.04895
6.42313
6.8574
5.78608

Finally we increased the Voltage to V = 400.

Voltage

400 1

Current A
1.58
1.76
1.96
2.08
2.2
2.52
2.72
2.92

error
e1
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01

% error =
1/200
% error
e1/Current
0.006329114
0.005681818
0.005102041
0.004807692
0.004545455
0.003968254
0.003676471
0.003424658

B = (0*N*I/(a))*(4/5)^(3/2)
N
130
130
130
130
130
130
130
130

% error 5
e2 = 5/N
0.03846154
0.03846154
0.03846154
0.03846154
0.03846154
0.03846154
0.03846154
0.03846154

a
0.148613
0.148613
0.148613
0.148613
0.148613
0.148613
0.148613
0.148613

% error (.001)
e3 = .001/a
0.006728909
0.006728909
0.006728909
0.006728909
0.006728909
0.006728909
0.006728909
0.006728909

0.11
0.1
0.09
0.085
0.08
0.07
0.065
0.06

error
Radius
e5
0.0025 0.055
0.0025
0.05
0.0025 0.045
0.0025 0.0425
0.0025
0.04
0.0025 0.035
0.0025 0.0325
0.0025
0.03

0.001242768
0.001384349
0.001541661
0.001636049
0.001730436
0.001982136
0.002139448
0.00229676

% error
e4 = e1+e2+e3
0.051519561
0.050872266
0.050292488
0.04999814
0.049735902
0.049158702
0.048866918
0.048615105

r2 *B2

r
Diameter

Magnetic Field

error
e6=e5/2
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125
0.00125

% error
e7=e6/r
0.022727273
0.025
0.027777778
0.029411765
0.03125
0.035714286
0.038461538
0.041666667
Average

r2 *B2
4.67203E-09
4.79105E-09
4.81286E-09
4.83471E-09
4.79105E-09
4.81286E-09
4.83471E-09
4.7476E-09
4.78711E-09

% error
e8 = 2*e4 + 2*e7
0.148493668
0.151744531
0.156140532
0.158819809
0.161971804
0.169745974
0.174656913
0.180563543
error

error
e9 = e8*(e/m)
6.93766E-10
7.27016E-10
7.51482E-10
7.67847E-10
7.76016E-10
8.16963E-10
8.44415E-10
8.57243E-10
7.79344E-10

Then I took the steady voltages and plotted 2V on the y axis and r2 *B2 on the x axis. I plotted
the average value as blue diamonds and the associated error as error bars and fit a trendline to that
data. I also plotted all the individual data points as red circles just to see the spread of the data a little
better. Then I added the equation of a line for the worst case scenario accounted for by my error bars in
either direction. This will tell me a little about how much my slope can vary which has to do with the
error, uncertainty, of the e/m measurement.

2V vs r2 * B2
y = 1.4808E+11x + 8.9808E+01
R = 9.9986E-01

1000
900

y = 2.5461E+11x - 2.2043E+02

800
y = 1.0409E+11x + 2.2058E+02

2*Voltage

700
600

500

Averages
All data points

400
300
200
100
0
0

1E-09

2E-09

3E-09

4E-09

5E-09

6E-09

7E-09

r2 *B2

Then I took the measurement for e/m and approximated an error using the error bars. I compared it the
accepted value and found the percent difference.

Our slope

Error
(from graph)

Percent
error *100

Accepted
Value

Percent
difference
(Eq. 5)

1.48E+11

3.70E+10

25%

1.76E+11

15.8%

Discussion:
We were able to calculate e/m=1.48E11 C/kg from all the data we collected. For the worst case
scenario our measurement could vary from 1.04E11 to 2.55E11. To account for this I associated a 25%
error on our e/m measurement. So it is 1.48E11 3.7E10 C/kg. The accepted value of 1.76E11 fits inside
this range of error.
What troubles me is that the R2 value for our average data is .9986. This means our data is
highly correlated. A strong correlation typically means there was little error. This leads me to believe I
overestimated the error. Also, the trendline intersects the y axis at 2V = 89.8 which means we could
possibly have a 44.9V offset. This is not accounted for in our equation for e/m. This offset must be
cause be something in the experiment. It could be caused by the voltage of the apparatus knob being
slightly offset. This is something we couldnt check because there was no way to measure it inside the
box. It could also be cause by us making a wrong assumption in our calculations. We assumed that all
the voltage between the anode and the cathode turned into the kinetic energy for the electrons. Its
very likely that there is some sort of work function or energy drop that takes place and uses some of this
voltage thus taking it away from the kinetic energy of the electron. This drop would definitely explain
the offset we see in the graph. A likely source would be from the added helium to the bulb where the
electrons travel. Some of the energy might be lost because we are accelerating the electrons through
helium instead of a completely evacuated bulb. Another possibility is that some of the voltage is lost due
to resistance before getting to the anode/cathode.
Several sources of human error also drastically affected this experiment. We had to measure the
radius of the coils. This is a difficult task to do perfectly for several reasons: 1. The coils arent perfectly
round and have different diameters at different angles. 2. The tool we had to use was a yardstick which
was hard to be accurate with due to its size. 3. We didnt have a clearly marked center point so our
diameter measurements might have been slightly underdone by not going through the center. 4. Each
coil is different and had different radii.
Another major source of error is from when we recorded the diameter of the electron beam.
This is an eyeball measurement of a wide beam hitting a built in ruler while we had to be a decent
distance away. These factors made recording that measurement have a fairly significant amount of
error associated with it.
By completing this lab I better understand how we can use things that are measureable, such as
a magnetic field, a voltage, a current, and a radius to calculate something we cant measure. I also
learned more about how electrons act when exposed to magnetic fields and potential differences.