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'''Radiant Matter''' is the term that British physicist [[William Crookes]] used to describe what he believed was a fourth state of matter, in a time when the atom was thought to be a solid small ball, indivisible and without motion. Crookes's experimental work in this field was the foundation of discoveries which eventually changed the whole of chemistry and physics. | '''Radiant Matter''' is the term that British physicist [[William Crookes]] and others used to describe what he believed was a fourth state of matter, in a time when the atom was thought to be a solid small ball, indivisible and without motion. Crookes's experimental work in this field was the foundation of discoveries which eventually changed the whole of chemistry and physics. | ||
== Crookes tubes == | == Crookes tubes == | ||
[[File:Crookes tube.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Two views of the Crookes tubes]] | [[File:Crookes tube.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Two views of the Crookes tubes]] | ||
By the 1870s, the nature of electricity was a unknown and many experiments were done to determine what cathode rays were. | By the 1870s, the nature of electricity was a unknown and many experiments were done to determine what cathode rays were. Earlier experiments where done within tubes with a low vacuum that possessed two metal electrodes, one at either end. When a high voltage was applied between the electrodes. The cathode rays traveled in straight lines from the cathode (negative) end to the anode (positive) end, producing a glow that filled the tubes. | ||
William Crookes was able to generate a higher vacuum in tubes (known as "Crookes Tubes) and found out that as he pumped more air out of the tubes, they became totally dark, except for the anode end, where the glass of the tube itself began to glow. | |||
Crookes thought the cathode rays consisted of electrically charged atoms, but in 1897 Sir J. J. Thomson discovered they were not atoms, but a new particle, the first subatomic particle to be discovered, which was name "electron". Thus, Thomson proved that the cathode rays are streams of electrons. | Crookes thought the cathode rays consisted of electrically charged atoms, but in 1897 Sir J. J. Thomson discovered they were not atoms, but a new particle, the first subatomic particle to be discovered, which was name "electron". Thus, Thomson proved that the cathode rays are streams of electrons. | ||
In 1895, using the Crookes tube, Wilhelm Röntgen discovered X-rays. | |||
==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
*[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Popular_Science_Monthly/Volume_16/November_1879/On_Radiant_Matter_I# On Radiant Matter by W. Crookes] at Wikisource | *[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Popular_Science_Monthly/Volume_16/November_1879/On_Radiant_Matter_I# On Radiant Matter by W. Crookes] at Wikisource | ||
Revision as of 17:00, 27 June 2012
Radiant Matter is the term that British physicist William Crookes and others used to describe what he believed was a fourth state of matter, in a time when the atom was thought to be a solid small ball, indivisible and without motion. Crookes's experimental work in this field was the foundation of discoveries which eventually changed the whole of chemistry and physics.
Crookes tubes
By the 1870s, the nature of electricity was a unknown and many experiments were done to determine what cathode rays were. Earlier experiments where done within tubes with a low vacuum that possessed two metal electrodes, one at either end. When a high voltage was applied between the electrodes. The cathode rays traveled in straight lines from the cathode (negative) end to the anode (positive) end, producing a glow that filled the tubes.
William Crookes was able to generate a higher vacuum in tubes (known as "Crookes Tubes) and found out that as he pumped more air out of the tubes, they became totally dark, except for the anode end, where the glass of the tube itself began to glow.
Crookes thought the cathode rays consisted of electrically charged atoms, but in 1897 Sir J. J. Thomson discovered they were not atoms, but a new particle, the first subatomic particle to be discovered, which was name "electron". Thus, Thomson proved that the cathode rays are streams of electrons.
In 1895, using the Crookes tube, Wilhelm Röntgen discovered X-rays.
Further reading
- On Radiant Matter by W. Crookes at Wikisource