Lab Equipment for Teaching Physics

Note: liquid Nitrogen not provided

Features

• Easy to use with compact structure

• Ample experimental examples

• Stable performance

  
  

Introduction

The Ramsauer-Townsend Effect was discovered in the early 20th century by C. Ramsauer (1912) and J. Townsend (1922), highlighting the relationship between the scattering cross section of an electron and the electron's speed. In this phenomenon, at high electron energies, the scattering cross section of Argon atoms increases as the electron energy decreases. However, when the electron energy is below a certain threshold (around a dozen eV), the scattering cross section decreases significantly. This unexpected behavior contradicts classical theory, which predicted that the scattering section would be independent of electron speed. The Ramsauer-Townsend effect can only be explained using quantum mechanics, making it a key experimental phenomenon in modern physics.

The LEAI-35 Ramsauer-Townsend Effect Apparatus is designed to measure the IS-VA (scattering probability vs. electron speed) and IP-VA (scattering cross section vs. electron energy) curves, allowing for a deep investigation into the relationship between scattering probability and electron speed. It provides valuable hands-on experience for students studying quantum mechanics, atomic physics, and the scattering phenomena of electrons.

The instruction manual contains comprehensive materials including experimental configurations, principles and step-by-step instructions. Please click Experiment Theory and Contents to find more information about this apparatus.

The LEAI-35 Ramsauer-Townsend Effect Apparatus allows students to perform a range of experiments and achieve key learning outcomes:

1. Understand the Collision Rule of Electrons with Atoms:

   The experiment helps students understand how electrons collide with gas atoms and how the scattering cross section is influenced by the speed of the electrons, introducing students to the fundamental concepts of atomic scattering.

2. Measure Scattering Probability vs. Electron Speed:

   Students will measure how the scattering probability of low-energy electrons changes with electron speed, helping them visualize the behavior of electrons during collisions at different energy levels.

3. Calculate the Effective Elastic Scattering Cross Section:

   By analyzing the experimental data, students will calculate the effective elastic scattering cross section of gas atoms, providing valuable insights into the quantum mechanical behavior of electrons and atoms during collisions.

4. Determine the Electron Energy of Minimum Scattering Probability:

   Students will identify and calculate the electron energy corresponding to the minimum scattering probability, which is critical for understanding the Ramsauer-Townsend effect.

5. Verify the Ramsauer-Townsend Effect:

   Using the measured data, students can verify the Ramsauer-Townsend effect by showing that the scattering cross section behaves in a way that classical physics cannot explain, thus demonstrating the necessity of quantum mechanics to account for the observed phenomenon.

Specifications

Parts List