Question

Suppose we were to attempt to use a similar machine to measure the charge-to-mass ratio of protons, instead. Suppose, for simplicity, that we can get a "source" for a beam of protons as we do here for electrons (with a similar setup). What complications (if any) do you expect?

Answer 1

Answer:

In summary, the biggest difference in the experiment is that the proton mass is much more than the electron mass, so the voltages used are high and very dangerous.

Explanation:

The machine to measure the ratio of charge / mass of the electron, has two parts: a part where it accelerates the electrons in an electric field and a second section to charter the beam and measure its radius of curvature calculated from here the q / m ratio

In the case of having protons, the charge has the same value as that of the electrons, but with a positive charge, so the polarities of the fields should be changed.

The mass of the protons is much greater than the mass of the electrons, which introduced a significant difference in the excrement, since similar electric fields the speed of the protons is much less than the speed of the electrons, so the magnetic field through which the voters pass to have equivalent deflations in many cases this small values ​​of the magnetic field are not desirable due to the interference of the Earth's magnetic field.

Another solution could be to increase the electric field to have the protons with speeds similar to the electors, this possibility is not easy either, because the field of trunking of more than 5000 V would be needed, which are very dangerous.

In summary, the biggest difference in the experiment is that the proton mass is much more than the electron mass, so the voltages used are high and very dangerous.