Using a Van de Graaff electrostatic generator and a linear accelerator, the speeds of electrons with kinetic energies in the range 0.5–15 MeV are determined by measuring the time required for the electrons to traverse a given distance. The measurements show the existence of a limiting speed in accord with the results of special relativity. The kinetic energy, determined by calorimetry,verifies that an electric field exerts a force on a moving electron in its direction of motion that is independent of its speed.
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© 1964 American Association of Physics Teachers.
1964
American Association of Physics Teachers
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