Exam-style question
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What role does the electric field play in Millikan's oil-drop experiment?.
- A.It increases the mass of the oil droplets.
- B.It provides a force that can balance the weight of the droplets.
- C.It accelerates the droplets to high speeds.
- D.It ionizes the oil droplets.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- It provides a force that can balance the weight of the droplets.
Explanation
Why this works
In Millikan's experiment, the electric field exerts a force on the charged oil droplets, allowing for the balancing of this force with the gravitational force to determine the charge of the droplets.
Common mistake
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