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How did they measure the charge of electron

 
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Mar12-12, 12:27 AM   #1
 

How did they measure the charge of electron


I know that a charge is discribed in terms of coulombs. But how did they know that an electron has a charge of 1.60217646 × 10-19 coulomb ? by the way , what is a coulomb exactly ? and how did they found or discribed its quantity ? I would like the answer to be in details please . Thanks
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Mar12-12, 12:35 AM   #2
 
Look up the Millikan oil drop experiment.

A coulomb is exactly that amount of charge which results from a current of one Ampere flowing for one second.
Mar12-12, 05:15 AM   #3
 
you said it is " the amount of charge which results from a current of one Ampere flowing for one second " ,, what is Ampere ? and how would we find it ? ( suppose we want to calculate the charge and the magnitude of the charge is not given)
Mar12-12, 05:30 AM   #4
 
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How did they measure the charge of electron


Hi Boody! Welcome to PF!
Quote by Boody View Post
… what is Ampere ? and how would we find it ?
The ampere (small "a" ) is defined in terms of ordinary mechanical units.

From the PF Library
the amp is that current which in a pair of wires a metre apart would produce a force between them of 2 10-7 N/m
Mar12-12, 09:38 AM   #5
 
mmmm, I see

Thanks :)
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