Millikan Oil Drop Experiment

Suspend an oil drop in the electric field to prove that charge is quantized.

Apparatus Controls

Plate Voltage (V) 0 V

0V (Gravity only) 6000V (Strong Upward Force)

1. Spray oil drops into the chamber.
2. Fire X-Rays to give them random negative charges (extra electrons).
3. Increase voltage. Negatively charged drops will slow down or rise.
4. Try to perfectly suspend a drop in mid-air!

Telescope Analysis

Drops in Chamber 0

Suspended Drop Charge (q) -- Measured in multiples of elementary charge (e)

Eyepiece View

Top Plate: Positive (+)
Bottom Plate: Negative (-)

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