THERMIONIC CURRENT Meaning and
Definition
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Thermionic current refers to the phenomenon in which a flow of electric charge is produced due to the thermal excitation of electrons in a solid-state device known as a thermionic diode or a vacuum tube. The term "thermionic" is derived from the words "thermal" (related to heat) and "ionic" (related to ions), signifying the thermal emission of ions or charged particles.
In a thermionic diode or vacuum tube, a filament or cathode is heated, usually through electrical heating, causing the electrons to gain thermal energy and become excited. As a result, some of these electrons acquire sufficient energy to overcome the electric potential barrier between the cathode and an anode or plate within the device. This leads to the emission of electrons from the cathode and their subsequent attraction towards the anode or plate due to the positive electric potential applied to it.
The flow of electrons from the cathode to the anode constitutes the thermionic current. It is characterized by a unidirectional movement of electrons from the heated cathode to the cooler anode, driven by the temperature difference between them. The magnitude of the thermionic current depends on various factors such as the temperature of the cathode, the material properties of the cathode and anode, the spacing between them, and the electric potential difference applied across the device.
Thermionic currents have been widely employed in various applications ranging from early vacuum tube technology to modern electronic devices such as microwave amplifiers and X-ray machines.
Common Misspellings for THERMIONIC CURRENT
- rhermionic current
- fhermionic current
- ghermionic current
- yhermionic current
- 6hermionic current
- 5hermionic current
- tgermionic current
- tbermionic current
- tnermionic current
- tjermionic current
- tuermionic current
- tyermionic current
- thwrmionic current
- thsrmionic current
- thdrmionic current
- thrrmionic current
- th4rmionic current
- th3rmionic current
- theemionic current
Etymology of THERMIONIC CURRENT
The word "thermionic" originates from two Greek roots: "therme" meaning "heat" and "ion" meaning "going".
The term "thermionic current" specifically refers to the electric current that flows in a vacuum tube or thermionic valve when heated to high temperatures. This phenomenon was first discovered in the late 19th century by Thomas Edison and later investigated by Owen Richardson, who coined the term "thermionic emission" in 1901 to describe the emission of electrons from a heated conductor.
The concept of “thermionic current” emerged as a result of further advancements in vacuum tube technology, which utilized the thermionic emission of electrons.
Similar spelling words for THERMIONIC CURRENT
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