Exam-style question
Try this first
What evidence supports the quantisation of charge observed in Millikan's oil-drop experiment?.
- A.The oil droplets were charged by friction.
- B.The charges measured were always integer multiples of a fundamental charge.
- C.The droplets fell at constant speeds.
- D.The experiment used a vacuum chamber.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The charges measured were always integer multiples of a fundamental charge.
Explanation
Why this works
The evidence shows that the measured charges in Millikan's experiment were not random but rather specific values that were multiples of a fundamental charge (the charge of an electron). This indicates that charge is quantised, meaning it exists in discrete amounts rather than a continuous range.
The implication is that this quantisation supports the idea that charge is a fundamental property of particles, leading to the conclusion that charge cannot be divided into smaller units beyond this fundamental value.
Common mistake
No common mistake is linked to this question yet.