Millikan's Experiment: Observing Vibrating Oil Droplets

[Jorge Jr]

Hello. In Milikan's experiment, as we observe the oil droplets through the microscope, during the measurement of the speed of fall and rise.
we can see that the oil droplets are "vibrating".
Why does it happen?
Sorry for my bad English.

 

[Charles Link]

I believe you are observing Brownian motion. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownian_motion

 

[sophiecentaur]

The original Milikan experiment involved hundreds of measurements in order to reduce the consequence of the effect that you were observing (amongst all the others). He is one of my heroes because of that sort of dedication.

 

[Jorge Jr]

Is such an effect the Brownian effect?

 

[berkeman]

Is such an effect the Brownian effect?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_drop_experiment