Crookes tube

A crookes tube is a special kind of tube that can create a beam of glowing light called a cathode ray. Think of it like a magic flashlight that shoots out a glittery stream of tiny particles.

The tube is made of glass and has two metal electrodes inside it. One electrode is connected to a negative charge and is called the cathode, while the other electrode is connected to a positive charge and is called the anode.

When a small electric current is sent through the electrodes, the electrons inside the cathode are excited and start moving towards the anode. But, there is a metal plate with a hole in it between the two electrodes that blocks the electrons from going through directly.

Instead, the electrons have to pass through the hole and hit a special coating on the inside of the tube. This creates a glowing beam of light that we call the cathode ray.

We can use crookes tubes to study different things like the properties of gases or the behavior of electric currents. They were first invented back in the late 1800s by a scientist named William Crookes, which is where they get their name.