Final answer:
The plum pudding model proposed by J.J. Thomson is the best atomic model to explain the charge of the particles in Thomson's beams. It describes the atom as a uniform sphere of positive charge with electrons embedded in it like plums in a pudding, balancing the charge and maintaining overall neutrality.
Step-by-step explanation:
To explain the charge of the particles in Thomson's beams, the best use of an atomic model is the plum pudding model proposed by J.J. Thomson. In this model, the atom is described as a uniform sphere of positive charge with electrons embedded in it like plums in a pudding. The positive charge of the atom balances the negative charge of the electrons, resulting in a neutral overall charge.
In Thomson's experiment, he measured the extent of deflection of cathode rays in magnetic or electric fields. Since like charges repel each other, the cathode rays being deflected in the direction expected for negative charge indicated that the particles carried a net negative charge, later identified as electrons. This observation supported Thomson's plum pudding model and the presence of both positive and negative charges in the atom.
Overall, the plum pudding model provides a visual representation of the charge distribution in an atom and how electrons are balanced with positive charge to maintain a neutral overall charge.