what are canal rays

Canal rays are streams of positively charged particles produced in a gas discharge tube when high voltage is passed through a gas at low pressure. They were discovered by Eugen Goldstein in 1886.

These rays move in the direction opposite to cathode rays and pass through holes or "canals" in the cathode, which is why they are called canal rays.

Characteristics of canal rays

• They are made of positively charged particles.

• They travel in straight lines.

• Their mass depends on the type of gas used in the tube.

• They are deflected by electric and magnetic fields toward the negative plate.

Importance of canal rays

• Helped in the discovery of protons.

• Proved that atoms contain positive particles.

Canal rays played an important role in understanding the structure of the atom and the development of modern atomic theory.