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FriDec 20

Cathode-Ray Tube Day – December 20, 2024

Cathode-Ray Tube Day is a special holiday that is celebrated on December 20 every year in the United States. The holiday aims to appreciate the technology for all the ways we have benefited from it. A cathode-ray tube( C.R.T.) is a vacuum tube that contains one or more electron guns. These electron guns emit electron beams that are manipulated to become display images on a phosphorescent screen. The displayed images may represent pictures such as for a television set or computer monitor. They may also be electrical waveforms for oscilloscopes, radar targets, or other phenomena.

History of Cathode-Ray Tube Day

Cathode-Ray Tube Day is celebrated to express gratitude for the technology that many people rely on. The kinescope was the initial name for the cathode-ray tube (C.R.T.). A Russian immigrant called Vladimir Zworykin patented the invention in 1938. The holiday is celebrated to mark the anniversary of the patent.

It has been said that the C.R.T. is a vacuum tube constructed from a sizable glass envelope. Usually, it has a single or several electron guns. Images are shown on a phosphorescent screen that is part of the device. The images are produced by modulating, accelerating, and deflecting electron beams onto a screen. Images on televisions and computer screens, radar targets, electrical waveforms on oscilloscopes, and more are all examples of images. Negatively charged electrodes are known as cathodes. The entire front portion of the tube is regularly and methodically scanned in a predefined pattern in a C.R.T. television or computer monitor. This is called a raster.

Early Crookes tubes were found to contain cathode rays in 1869. The first iteration of the C.R.T was created in 1897 by a German scientist, Ferdinand Braun. The Braun Tube was the name of the prototype. Germany produced the first commercially available C.R.T. television sets in 1934. In 1932, R.C.A. was granted a trademark for the name cathode-ray tube. It was made available to the public domain by 1950. In the late 2000s, flat panel display technology gradually took the place of cathode ray tubes. These displays come in L.C.D., O.L.E.D., and plasma varieties.

Cathode-Ray Tube Day timeline

1869
Cathode Rays are Discovered

Cathode rays are found in early Crookes tubes.

1897
A Prototype is Invented

Ferdinand Braun invents the earliest prototype of the C.R.T. called the Braun tube.

1920s
Televisions are Made

Televisions using the C.R.T. are made.

1932
Cathode-Ray Tube is a Trademark

The trademark for the term cathode-ray tube is received by the R.C.A.

Cathode-Ray Tube Day FAQs

How does a C.R.T. look?

A C.R.T. is a deep glass envelope that is long from the front screen face to the rear end.

Does C.R.T. break easily?

The face of a C.R.T. is usually made of thick lead glass or special barium-strontium glass so it can be shatter-resistant.

Is a C.R.T. heavy?

C.R.T.s are the heaviest part of C.R.T. T.V.s and computer monitors.

Cathode-Ray Tube Day Activities

  1. Share the holiday

    Get your friends and family to join you in celebrating the holiday. It’s always fun celebrating with others.

  2. Learn about cathodes

    You can learn more about cathode-ray tubes today. They have many interesting characteristics that will intrigue you.

  3. Watch television

    You can enjoy the technology that the cathode ray tube helped to develop. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy watching a good movie on your television.

5 Interesting Facts About C.R.T.

  1. Its located inside glass

    The cathode is located inside a glass tube.

  2. It has an anode

    There is an anode inside the glass tube that attracts electrons.

  3. The electrons are pulled

    The anode is used to pull the electrons towards the front of the glass tube.

  4. The electrons shoot out

    The cathode ray is made when the electrons shoot out in one direction.

  5. It makes a vacuum

    A vacuum is made when the air is taken out of the tube to better control the direction of the ray.

Why We Love Cathode-Ray Tube Day

  1. It encourages technological innovation

    The holiday helps to encourage more people to brave creativity and innovation. As incumbents' sources of advantage dwindle, technological innovation gives entrepreneurs the chance to launch new organizations and establish themselves as competitors.

  2. It creates awareness

    The holiday helps more people understand the technology behind imaging. Raising awareness educates people about topics that are new to them and encourages them to participate in bringing change.

  3. It supports inventors

    The holiday shows appreciation and support to inventors, which makes them feel valued. Their Inventions help people around the world live longer, healthier, and more productive lives and provide new ways to build, move, communicate, heal, learn and play

Cathode-Ray Tube Day dates

Year Date Day
2024 December 20 Friday
2025 December 20 Saturday
2026 December 20 Sunday
2027 December 20 Monday
2028 December 20 Wednesday
December
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
 

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