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Cathode ray: why do electrons accelerate past the anode instead of sticking to it?

Like in this cathode ray experiment, I don’t get why the electron would go past the anode if it’s attached to it?

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Original post by at.midnight
Like in this cathode ray experiment, I don’t get why the electron would go past the anode if it’s attached to it?

9C216170-902D-4337-B932-8956D730682F.jpg.jpeg

many do, some however miss the anode. fwiw being attracted towards something but not necessarily hitting it happens in astronomy too... obviously planets are attracted to the sun but they move in closed orbits because they have momentum tangential to the gravitational field. Even more like the electrons in the CRT is an interstellar object like Oumuamua which was attracted to the Sun and accelerated as it got closer before missing, having it's direction changed and then continued on back out of the solar system decelerating as it got further from the sun.

the electrons don't do a U turn and go back towards the anode because the right hand side of the CRT is surrounded by a conductive layer at the same potential as the anode in the gun on so once the electrons are out of the gun they don't 'feel' an electric field any more. it's shown on some diagrams

Thank you for the detailed explanation @Joinedup!! Total lifesaver here!

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