Question

Why did Thomson's results from experimenting with cathode rays a big change in scientific thought about atoms?

Answer 1

Thomson's results from experiments with cathode ray tubes produced a big change in scientific thought about atoms because his results gave the first evidence that atoms were made of smaller particles.

Particularly, he proved the existence of negatively charged sub-atomic particles that are called as electrons which together with a positively charged nucleus form an atomic unit.

Thomson's plum pudding model of the atom had negatively-charged electrons embedded within a positively-charged "soup." Thomson also made the following conclusions from his experiment:

• The cathode ray is composed of negatively-charged particles.
• The particles must be as part of an atom because the mass of each particle is only ~ 1/2000  compared to one hydrogen atom mass.

• Within the atoms of all elements, these subatomic particles are found.

Initially it was controversial, but later Thomson's discoveries were gradually accepted by scientists. After then, his cathode ray particles were given a  name called as electrons.