J.+J.+Thomson+by+Kirsten+Shivers

Joseph John Thomson.

In 1897 J. J. Thomson discovered the electron and invented the Plum Pudding Model. Buts lets re-wind, Thomson realized atoms are uniform spheres of positive charged matter in which electrons are embedded. But how did Thomson know electrons where in embedded in the atoms? -J.J. Thomson realized electrons exist by improving Cookes' tube (tubes that contain small amounts of gas which electricity was passed through) These rays were called Cathode Rays.

Thomson invented a better vacuum tube, which shows the same rays also bend towards the positive plate of a battery, no matter what the gas in the tube is.

Thomson also realized that the atoms are so small that came from inside the atom, that the tiny negatively charged electroins must be embedded in a cloud of positivily charged. He imagined it as bits of plums in Plum Pudding.

He received a Noble Prize in 1906 and Knighthood in 1908.