electrons travel best in total vacuum... electrons are very light and have a negative charge, and so they feel strong forces when they travel past gas molecules. so whenever an electron comes close to a gas molecule, it would be bent off course. this would make the so called "cathode ray" to be scattered...
does anyone know whether this difference in potentials produced by the electrodes allow for postive charged particles to flow backwards ie in opposite direction of the of the electrons? and what might be the effect of this if it does happen?
thanks