Bremsstrahlung

cathode rays - X-rays - Bremsstrahlung

What it shows:
When the electrons in a cathode ray tube collide with the glass, they decelerate rapidly. The radiation emitted by the electrons is called Bremsstrahlung or breaking radiation.

How it works:
As the high energy electron enters the glass, it collides with an atom converting part of its kinetic energy to electromagnetic radiation. Using the Maltese Cross CRT, a Geiger counter will be able to detect a large X-ray flux from the fluorescing glass face. Placing a glass plate between the detector and the CRT blocks the X-rays, suggesting a "soft" X-ray source.

Setting it up:
Power supply and induction coil as in the Maltese Cross demo. Also the Geiger counter^tot and a 1/4" Pyrex® baking dish to block the X-rays.

Comments:
The thickness of the front screens of modern televisions (>1/4") is such that no X-radiation penetrates (this could be shown using a TV monitor). Unfortunately early TVs did not take the effects of Bremsstrahlung into account! Rating ***

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