How Does X-Ray Ionisation Impact Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment?

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X-ray ionization plays a crucial role in Millikan's oil drop experiment by charging the oil droplets, which is essential for the experiment's functionality. The ionization process creates charge on the oil drops, but excessive charge can lead to errors in calculations, as the droplets may be attracted upward. There is a limit to the amount of charge that can be imparted by X-rays, and the experiment can be controlled by turning off the X-ray tube. Without the ionization provided by X-rays, the experiment would not be feasible. Overall, X-ray ionization is vital for accurately measuring the charge of oil droplets in this experiment.
curious bishal
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What is the use of X-ray in Millikan's oil drop experiment? It ionises the oil but what does the ionisation help in? If it creates charge, then the oil's charge keep on increasing it creates error in calculation as the oil drop is attracted upward after sufficient amount of charge.
 
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The X-ray tube was used to charge the oil drops.
There is a limit to how much charge can be removed from the drop by x-rays and, anyway you can always turn the tube off before doing the experiment.
 
Without something to charge the drops, there would be no experiment.
 

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