Help about millikan oil drops apparatus?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on solving problems related to the Millikan oil drop experiment, specifically calculating the radius of an oil drop and the number of electron charges it carries. The apparatus features horizontal plates 2 cm apart, with an oil drop falling at a steady velocity of 2 x 10^-4 m/s when the electric field is off. When the field is activated with a potential difference of 1150 V, the drop remains stationary. Key equations include the balance of forces involving gravitational force and electric force, specifically m g = 6 π η r v and q Δv/d = m g.

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Homework Statement



in a millikan type apparatus, the horizontal plates are 2 cm apart. with the field switched off, an oil drop is observed to fall with a steady velocity of 2 x 10^-4 m/s. when the field is on, the upper plate being positive and the drop just remains stationary when the pd between two plates is 1150 v

a/ calculate the radius of the oildrop
b/ how many electrons charges does it carry

Homework Equations


a/ w=fd
m g = 6 phi η r v

b/ fe = w
q Δv/d = m g

The Attempt at a Solution



a/ i don't understand how much is m, and η
it is not mention in the question. what should i do? where should i put V?

b/how much is m?
 
Last edited:
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η and the density of oil are something you have to look up (in the problem statement or somewhere else).
m can be calculated as function of the radius of the oil drop and the density.

"phi" is pi (##\pi##)?

where should i put V?
What do you mean here?
v as velocity? Exactly where it is in the formula.
V as volume? That is related to the mass.
V as voltage? Exactly where it is in the formula.
 

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