Enumerate the important characteristics of anode-rays (or positive rays). How this study led to the discovery of proton?
The mass of positive particles which constitute these rays depend upon the nature of the gas in the tube. The charge/mass (e/m) ratio of anode-rays is not constant but depends upon the nature of gas in the tube. The value of e/m is greatest for the lightest gas, hydrogen the electric charge on a lightest positively charged particle from hydrogen gas was found to be exactly equal in magnitude but opposite in sign to that of the electron. This lightest positively charged particle from hydrogen gas was named the proton. The mass of a proton is almost 1836 times that of the electron.
