XIII
253
EXPERIMENTS ON THE CATHODE DISCHARGE
The result may therefore be expressed as follows. Under the
conditions of the experiment the cathode rays were
deflected by any electromotive force existing in the space
traversed by them, at any rate not by an electromotive force
of one to two Daniells per millimetre. Upon this we may
make the following remarks:-
1. As far as the imperfect experiments described under
III. enable us to decide, the cathode rays cannot be recognised
as possessing any electrostatic properties. Under II. we
have partly proved, and partly shown it to be probable, that
they do not produce any strictly electromagnetic effects.
Thus the question arises: are we justified in regarding the
cathode rays as being in themselves an electrical phenomenon?
It does not appear improbable that, as far as their nature is
concerned, they have no closer relation to electricity than has
the light produced by an electric lamp.
2. The experiments described under II. can quite well be
reconciled with the view, which has received support in many
directions, that the cathode rays consist of streams of electri-
fied material particles. But the results described under III.
do not appear to be in accordance with such a view.
For we
find that the cathode rays behave quite unlike a rod of the
same shape connected with the cathode, which is pretty well
the opposite of what one would expect, according to this
conception. We may also ask with what speed electrified
particles would have to move in order that they should be
more strongly deflected by a magnetic force of absolute strength
unity, acting perpendicularly to their path, than by an
electrostatic force of 1 Daniell per millimetre. The requisite
speed would exceed eleven earth-quadrants per second,—a
speed which will scarcely be regarded as probable. But unless
we assume such a speed, the conception here referred to cannot,
in accordance with the experiments described under B, account
for the action of the magnet upon the rays.
CONCLUSION
By the experiments here described I believe I have
proved :-
1. That until stronger proofs to the contrary are adduced,