In the cathode ray tube experiment, j. j. thomson passed an electric current through different gases inside a cathode ray tube in the presence of an electric field. in which two ways did this experiment change scientists’ understanding of the atom? a- it showed that atoms combine in different proportions. b-it showed that atoms can be divided into smaller parts. c- it showed that all atoms of the same element are similar. d-it showed that individual atoms could be destroyed. it showed that all atoms contain electrons.