cathode

cathode
/kath"ohd/, n.
1. the electrode or terminal by which current leaves an electrolytic cell, voltaic cell, battery, etc.
2. the positive terminal of a voltaic cell or battery.
3. the negative terminal, electrode, or element of an electron tube or electrolytic cell.
[1825-35; < Gk káthodos a way down, equiv. to kat- CAT- + hodós way]

* * *

I
Terminal or electrode at which electrons enter a system, such as an electrolytic cell or an electron tube.

In a battery or other source of direct current, the cathode is the positive terminal. In a passive load it is the negative terminal. In an electron tube, such as a cathode-ray tube, electrons stream off the cathode and travel through the tube toward the anode.
II
(as used in expressions)
cathode ray oscilloscope
cathode ray tube

* * *

      negative terminal or electrode through which electrons enter a direct current load, such as an electrolytic cell or an electron tube, and the positive terminal of a battery or other source of electrical energy through which they return. This terminal corresponds in electrochemistry to the terminal at which reduction occurs. Within a gas discharge tube, electrons travel away from the cathode, but positive ions (current carriers) travel toward the cathode. Compare anode.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • cathode — [ katɔd ] n. f. • 1838; formé en angl. par Faraday d apr. le gr. kata « en bas » et hodos « chemin » ♦ Sc. Électrode négative (opposé à anode, anticathode).⇒ électrolyse. Pôle d une pile d une batterie chargé positivement. ● cathode nom féminin ( …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Cathode — Cath ode, n. [Gr. ? descent; ? down + ? way.] (Physics) The part of a voltaic battery by which the electric current leaves substances through which it passes, or the surface at which the electric current passes out of the electrolyte; the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cathode — 1834, from Gk. kathodos a way down, from kata down + hodos way (see CEDE (Cf. cede)). So called from the path the electric current was supposed to take. Related: Cathodic. Cathode ray first attested 1880, but the phenomenon known from 1859;… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Cathode — Cathode. См. Катод. (Источник: «Металлы и сплавы. Справочник.» Под редакцией Ю.П. Солнцева; НПО Профессионал , НПО Мир и семья ; Санкт Петербург, 2003 г.) …   Словарь металлургических терминов

  • cathode — ► NOUN ▪ a negatively charged electrode. The opposite of ANODE(Cf. ↑anode). ORIGIN Greek kathodos way down …   English terms dictionary

  • cathode — [kath′ōd΄] n. [coined by FARADAY Michael < Gr kathodos, descent < kata , down + ODE1] 1. in an electroplating cell, the negatively charged electrode, from which current flows 2. in an electron tube, the negatively charged electron emitter 3 …   English World dictionary

  • Cathode — Diagram of a copper cathode in a galvanic cell (e.g., a battery). A positive current i flows out of the cathode (CCD mnemonic: Cathode Current Departs). A cathode is an electrode through which electric current flows out of a polarized electrical… …   Wikipedia

  • Cathode — Sur les autres projets Wikimedia : « Cathode », sur le Wiktionnaire (dictionnaire universel) La cathode[1] d un appareil passif parcouru par un courant continu est l électrode d où, en courant conventionnel, sort le courant (en… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • cathode —   n. negative terminal; electrode by which current leaves.    ♦ cathode particle, electron.    ♦ cathode ray, stream of electrons from cathode to anode in discharge tube;    ♦ cathode ray tube, vacuum tube in television receiver on fluorescent… …   Dictionary of difficult words

  • cathode — n. (also kathode) Electr. 1 the negative electrode in an electrolytic cell or electronic valve or tube. 2 the positive terminal of a primary cell such as a battery (opp. ANODE). Phrases and idioms: cathode ray a beam of electrons emitted from the …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”