Exam-style question
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In Millikan's experiment, what was the significance of observing that the charges were quantised?.
- A.It demonstrated that charge can be manipulated easily.
- B.It provided evidence for the existence of the electron.
- C.It showed that charge can exist in a vacuum.
- D.It indicated that charge is a continuous variable.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- It provided evidence for the existence of the electron.
Explanation
Why this works
The evidence from Millikan's oil-drop experiment showed that the measured charges were quantised, which directly supports the existence of the electron as a fundamental particle with a specific charge. This quantisation implies that electrons are the carriers of this charge, leading to the conclusion that the electron is a fundamental component of atomic structure and charge transfer.
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