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ConfusedKid3
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Homework Statement
This lab is supposed to be an example of Millikan's experiment using masses. We were given a huge list of masses of different samples. Each sample contained a different amount of item. Each sample contained the same sample and the individual masses are the same. There were approximately 8 groups of samples. Each group contained different amounts of an item. Basically there were approximately 50 masses, and we had to divide the 50 into approximately 8 categories and find the average. The values that i got were:
m1 = 1284.625 (only contains 1 of the item)
m2 = 1523.89
m3 = 1796.625
m4 = 2033.56
m5 = 2301.22
m6 = 2549.18
m7 = 2797.125
m8 = 3061.67
m9 = 3269.125
I had to use these average masses to find the mass of each item, the number of items in each container, and the mass of the container.
Homework Equations
Q = ne - you don't actually use this equation directly.
The Attempt at a Solution
The first thing that i did was find an equation for the mass. I figured that the mass of the sample (m) must equal to the mass of the container (c) plus the number of items (n) times the mass of each item (I).
m = c + nI. n must be greater than equal to 1 and must be an integer.
For the first mass i got: 1284.625 = c + I (this is the relationship between the mass of the container and the item)
Either way, i have too many unknowns so i found the differences between the masses.
m2-m1 = 239.265
m3-m2 = 272.735
m4-m3 = 234.935
m5-m4 = 267.66
m6-m5 = 247.96
m7-m6 = 247.945
m8-m7 = 264.545
m9-m8 = 207.455
Since only the first one eliminates a variable i used that one.
239.625 = m2 - m1
239.625 = (c + nI) - (C + I)
239.625 = (n-1)(I) - this equation is for the increase in the number of items from one sample
i isolated for n and get n = (239.625 - I)/I.
I know that n has to be an integer, but the problem with this is that i used average masses. This could result in me not getting and exact value. Now at this point is where I am stuck. I have too many unknowns and can't really think of a way to eliminate one. Does anyone have any idea how to do this?