J.J. Thompson Interview
Rohde: What inspired you to contribute to the current knowledge of the atom?
Thomson: Well, I became a professor of physics, and I guess it was just my job to do those sort of things.
Rohde: In what year did you discover the electron?
Thomson: In 1895; when I began experimenting in the laboratory.
Rohde: Were you influenced by anyone, did anyone help you with your discoveries?
Thomson: Yes; because of Crookes tube, I was able to find out that there was something else involved in the atom, and with long hours of research I found out about the electron.
Rohde: What if Crookes experiment was faulty, or what if he edited the results or did something wrong?
Thomson: Good question; I did his experiment with the way I thought that he did it and the results were the same, so his results must be correct.
Rohde: Were you awarded any special awards for discovering the electron?
Thomson: Yes I was; I was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1906, and I was knighted in 1908.
Rohde: Did you discover anything else while experimenting with the Cathode tube?
Thomson: Yes, I concluded that the ratio was the same regardless of what type of gas was used, which led me to conclude that the particles that made up the gases were universal.
Rohde: Did you ever lecture in a different country other than Manchester?
Thomson: Yes I did; I lectured many times in the U.S., including at Yale.
Rohde: Did you determine anything else besides that electrons exist?
Thomson: I discovered that all matter is made up of tiny particles that are much smaller than atoms, called subatomic particles.
Rohde: What characteristics did you discover the electron had?
Thomson: I discovered that there are tiny subatomic particles with a negative charge.
Rohde: Did you ever conduct other experiments when you found out about the electron?
Thomson: Well, I did do some experiments to see how and if electricity went through gasses.
Rohde: Would you care to tell me more about these experiments?
Thomson: All I can say is that I got the idea from the Cathode Ray Tubes.
Rohde: Can you describe what you atom model looks like?
Thomson: I think it looks like plums in pudding, but I think you might describe it better as raisins in cookie cookie dough.
Rohde: I am puzzled; what does that mean?
Thomson: The cookie dough represents the main positive part of the atom, or all of the protons, and the raisins represent the negative electrons scattered throughout the atom.
Rohde: It was a common theory that atoms could not be split: did you confirm that, or did you prove that theory wrong?
Thomson: to a degree I did. I figured out that the atom was made up of many subatomic particles, such as protons, neutrons, and now electrons.
Rohde: why did you decide to pursue science; was it always what you wanted to do?
Thomson: My father wanted me to be an engineer, but we could not afford to put me through apprenticeship, so I figured that science was the next best thing.
Rohde: You discovered the isotope; is it stable to work with an isotope?
Thomson: it is indeed; well it is safe to work with any stable isotopes, which most are; but there are a few unstable ones.
Rohde: Did you teach any students, or did you keep you work to yourself?
Thomson: Yes i taught many students; as many as 40 at once.
Rohde: DID you publish any books or papers?
Thomson: I published 13 books and over 200 papers.
rohde: Did you train anyone to become your successor?
Thomson: Yes I trained many close associates.
Rohde: How Did it work out? were they successful?
Thomson: They were very successful. 7 of them won the noble Prize.