Millikan determined the charge on the electron by studying the static charges on oil drops falling in an electric field (Figure 2.5). A student carried out this experiment using several oil drops for her measurements and calculated the charges on the drops. She obtained the following data: Droplet Calculated Charge (C) A 1.60 * 10-19 B 3.15 * 10-19 C 4.81 * 10-19 D 6.31 * 10-19 (b) What conclusion can the student draw from these data regarding the charge of the electron?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the smallest charge value among the given data, which is the charge on droplet A: 1.60 \times 10^{-19} C.
2. Compare the charges of the other droplets (B, C, D) with the smallest charge value to see if they are multiples of it.
3. Notice that each charge value for droplets B, C, and D can be approximated as integer multiples of the charge on droplet A. For example, droplet B's charge is approximately twice that of A, droplet C's charge is approximately three times that of A, and droplet D's charge is approximately four times that of A.
4. Conclude that the charge on an electron is quantized, meaning it occurs in discrete multiples of a smallest unit of charge, which in this case is suggested to be the charge on droplet A.
5. Determine that the smallest unit of charge, based on the student's data, likely represents the fundamental charge of an electron, which is consistent with the known charge of an electron, approximately 1.60 \times 10^{-19} C.

Key Concepts

Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment

Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment was a groundbreaking study that measured the charge of the electron by observing tiny oil droplets suspended in an electric field. By adjusting the electric field strength, Millikan could balance the gravitational force on the droplets, allowing him to calculate the charge on each droplet. This experiment provided crucial evidence for the quantization of electric charge, showing that charges are multiples of a fundamental unit.

Quantization of Charge

The quantization of charge refers to the principle that electric charge exists in discrete units rather than a continuous range. In the context of Millikan's experiment, the calculated charges of the oil droplets were found to be integer multiples of a fundamental charge value, which is the charge of a single electron (approximately 1.60 x 10^-19 coulombs). This concept is essential for understanding the nature of electric charge and its implications in atomic theory.

Data Analysis and Conclusion Drawing

Analyzing experimental data involves examining the results to identify patterns or relationships. In this case, the student must look for a common factor among the calculated charges of the oil droplets. By recognizing that all measured charges are multiples of the smallest charge (1.60 x 10^-19 C), the student can conclude that the charge of the electron is indeed 1.60 x 10^-19 C, reinforcing the concept of quantized charge.