Millikan's oil drop experiment direction

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
4 replies · 4K views
logearav
Messages
329
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Revered members,
Kindly see my attachment.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


When the charged oil drop is balanced, electric force = weight of oil drop.
Eq = mg
Eq = F + U, where F is the viscous force and U is the upthrust force. Since the oil drop attains terminal velocity mg = F + U.
I know viscous force always act upwards. But i can't figure out the direction of viscous force when oil drop is balanced. Please help, members
 

Attachments

  • millikans oil drop.png
    millikans oil drop.png
    55.5 KB · Views: 772
Physics news on Phys.org
Viscous force is directly proportional to velocity.
Viscous force only arises when there is movement of the oil drop (eg. when the electric field is removed and the drop falls. Here viscous force will continue to increase until upthrust + viscous force = weight. Then, resultant force being zero, the drop will fall with terminal velocity)
Also, viscous force always opposes direction of motion.
 
Last edited:
Thanks a lot NascentOxygen and Physics S16 for your replies.
What about the direction of viscous force when terminal velocity is achieved? Will it be upwards?
I think upwards from the statement of Physics S16 that viscous force always opposes direction of motion