Millikan oil drop experiment charge determination

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around determining the charge of a suspended oil droplet in the Millikan oil drop experiment using recorded voltage values. Participants analyze the relationship between the voltages and the corresponding charges, suggesting a method to express the charges as multiples of a fundamental charge. After collaborative problem-solving, they conclude that the charge for the first case is 7e, equating to approximately 1.12 x 10^-18 coulombs. The integers for the other cases are identified as 7, 6, 5, and 4. The participants express excitement upon reaching a solution after significant effort.
Jacob Pilawa
Messages
4
Reaction score
1
Howdy y'all!

If you could help with the following question, my physics class and I would be extremely grateful.

A charged oil droplet is suspended motionless between two parallel plates (d=0.01m) that are held at a potential difference V. Periodically, the charge on the droplet changes as in the original oil drop experiment. Each time the charge changes, V is adjusted so that the droplet remains motionless. Here is a table of recorded values of the voltage:

i. 350 V

ii. 408.3 V

iii. 490 V

iv. 612.5 V

From the data above, determine the charge on the dorplet for case (i) above. What assumptions do you need to make? (Hint: the ratio of voltages = ?)

Thanks a ton, we've been stumped.

I'm going to be honest here, me and 2 friends have been working on this for about 4 hours, and we don't really have any substantial work to show. Any help would be great. Thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I can give you a hint, but I haven't solved it myself yet: ## 350* \, Q_1=408.3* \, Q_2=490* \, Q_3=612.5* \, Q_4 ##. ## Q_4<Q_3<Q_2<Q_1 ##. Find some ## Q_o ## so that ## Q_4=n_4 \, Q_o ##, ## Q_3=n_3 \, Q_o ##, etc., ## n_4, n_3,... ## integers (hopefully small ones). Sorry, I edited a couple of times because I read it incorrectly.
 
Last edited:
Charles Link said:
I can give you a hint, but I haven't solved it myself yet: ## 350 \, Q_1=408.3 \, Q2=490 \, Q_3=612.5 Q_4 ##. ## Q_4<Q_3<Q_2<Q_1 ##. Find some ## Q_o ## so that ## Q_4=n_4 \, Q_o ##, ## Q_3=n_3 \, Q_o ##, etc., ## n_4, n_3,... ## integers (hopefully small ones).
Okay, this makes sense. However, where can we go from here? Is there anyway to solve for the integers?
 
I have it, but I'm not allowed to give the solution. I can give you a hint though. The smallest number, ## Q_4 ## is greater than 3. Another hint is the numbers are exact enough, that I think the data is probably simply constructed by the professor as a good learning exercise. One additional hint=let ## Q_4=n_4 ## (Ignore the ## Q_o ## part mentioned previously.) Please let us know if you figured out the answer.
 
Last edited:
Charles Link said:
I have it, but I'm not allowed to give the solution. I can give you a hint though. The smallest number, ## Q_4 ## is greater than 3.

Okay, so we talked it out a little bit. So does this mean that the answer is 7e=1.12x10^-18 coulumbs?
 
Jacob Pilawa said:
Okay, so we talked it out a little bit. So does this mean that the answer is 7e=1.12x10^-18 coulumbs?
Yes. One additional question for you=what did you get for the other 3 integers? And were the calculations almost exact?
 
Charles Link said:
Yes. One additional question for you=what did you get for the other 3 integers?

We got all the integers as 7,6,5, and 4. Thank you so much! We just screamed in excitement and relief.
 
  • Like
Likes Charles Link
Back
Top