the terms 'insulators' and 'conductors' are decieving, as a so called 'insulator' will become a 'conductor' given a high enough potential difference. instead, classing something as a 'good' or a 'poor' conductor makes more sense to me. gases are generally 'poor' conductors unless at low pressure and high potential difference - ie there are less gas particles obstructing the path of electrons, hence when a large potential difference is applied they are 'conducted' mainly through empty space... this is how it seems to make sense to me anyhow.. as for crookes bent tube, we haven't covered that in class - the maltese cross experiment seems to prove the same phenomena and in a much more easily understood fashion. im assuming crookes bent tube is a cathode ray tube with a bend in it somewhere (yes im a genius) - where is the bend and how sharp is it? im assuming it would have to be relatively obtuse to allow at least some electrons reach the cathode, with a relatively small percentile striking the edge of the bend on transit...