How did they measure the charge of electron

[Boody]

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

 

[Antiphon]

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.

 

[Boody]

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)

 

[tiny-tim]

Welcome to PF!

Hi Boody! Welcome to PF!

… 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​

 

[Boody]

mmmm, I see

Thanks :)