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Electron generator:
When a discharge tube containing air or any gas at ambient pressure is exposed to a high electric voltage of 10,000 volts or more, no electricity flows through the air. When a high voltage of 10,000 volts is applied to the electrodes of a discharge tube containing air or any gas at an external pressure of about 0.001 mm of mercury, a greenish glow is observed on the discharge tube walls behind the anode.

Electron generator
Note: Air is a good conductor of electricity.
- This observation demonstrates some invisible rays coming from the cathode.
- Hence, these rays are referred to as cathode rays.
- They were later given the name electrons.
Electron emission
Electrons:
Electrons are subatomic particles that revolve around the nucleus of an atom. They usually are negatively charged and much smaller than the nucleus of an atom.

Structure of atom