Robert Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment

In summary, Robert Millikan conducted the oil drop experiment to measure the charge of an electron by balancing the gravitational force with the electric field. He used the equation F=qE and knew that the charge was an integer multiple, but did not know the exact number of electrons in the oil drops. He examined the charge on multiple drops to try and determine this. However, in retrospect, there have been accusations of fraud, but Millikan's results were ultimately proven to be correct.
  • #1
cragar
2,552
3
when Robert Millikan did the oil drop experiment to measure the charge of an electron .
they balanced the gravitational force of the oil drop with the electric field .
did they use F=qE , did they know how many electrons were in their oil drops .
 
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  • #2
cragar said:
.
did they use F=qE

Yes, that and F=mg.

did they know how many electrons were in their oil drops .
No, they only knew that it was an integer multiple and they examined the charge on many individual drops to try and determine what number they were a common multiple of.
 
  • #3
ok thanks for your answer .
 
  • #4
In retrospect, it turned out Millikan also used a bit of http://www1.umn.edu/ships/ethics/millikan.htm" .

It might've been one of the biggest frauds in science - if he hadn't been correct. Food for thought.
 
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  • #5


Yes, Robert Millikan's oil drop experiment used the equation F=qE, where F represents the gravitational force, q represents the charge of the electron, and E represents the electric field. By balancing these forces, Millikan was able to determine the charge of the electron.

It is important to note that while Millikan did not know the exact number of electrons in each oil drop, he was able to calculate the charge of a single electron by observing the movement of multiple drops and using statistical analysis. This experiment was groundbreaking in providing a more accurate and precise measurement of the charge of an electron.
 

Related to Robert Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment

1. How did Robert Millikan conduct his Oil Drop Experiment?

Robert Millikan conducted his Oil Drop Experiment by creating a chamber filled with air and using a small hole at the top to introduce oil droplets. He then used a high-voltage source to ionize the air in the chamber, causing the oil droplets to gain or lose electrons and become electrically charged.

2. What was the purpose of Robert Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment?

The purpose of Robert Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment was to accurately measure the charge of an electron. By observing the motion of the oil droplets in the chamber and manipulating the electric field, he was able to calculate the charge of a single electron.

3. What were the major findings of Robert Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment?

Robert Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment provided the first accurate measurement of the charge of an electron, which was found to be 1.602 x 10^-19 coulombs. It also confirmed the existence of subatomic particles and helped to further develop the understanding of atomic structure.

4. How did Robert Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment impact the scientific community?

Robert Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment had a significant impact on the scientific community by providing strong evidence for the existence of subatomic particles and their properties. It also helped to shape the understanding of atomic structure and laid the foundation for future experiments in the field of physics.

5. What are the practical applications of Robert Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment?

The practical applications of Robert Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment include the development of new technologies such as mass spectrometry, which uses similar principles to accurately measure the masses of atoms and molecules. It also helped to advance the understanding of electricity and magnetism, leading to the development of various electronic devices.

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