Ewing Christian College

Prayagraj

Presentation on Millikan’s Oil Drop Experiment

Allotted Teacher:- Presented by:-

Dr. (Mrs.) Kusum Lata Pandey Moses Simon
(Department of Physics) Roll No.: 23005
Millikan’s Oil Drop
Experiment
Experiment Presentation

Moses Simon
Roll No.: 23005
Aim
To determine the electronic charge by using Millikan’s Oil Drop
method.
Formula Used
1
3 2𝑣1 2 𝑣1 + 𝑣2
𝑛𝑒 = 9𝜋𝜂2 𝑑
𝑔 𝐷𝑜 − 𝐷𝑎 𝑉
where
e = Electronic charge
n = Integer number
η = Coefficient of viscosity of air
g = acceleration due to gravity
Do = Density of oil
Da = Density of air
v1 = Steady velocity acquired by the drop in the absence of 𝐸
v2 = Steady velocity acquired by the drop in the presence of 𝐸
V = Applied Voltage
d = Distance between the plates
Theory
The oil drop experiment was performed by Robert A. Millikan in 1909 to measure the
elementary electric charge, i.e., the charge of an electron.

The basic principal idea behind the experiment was:

1) Measuring the terminal velocity of the fall of single charged oil drop acted on by
gravity and viscous drag.
2) Applying Stokes’ law to determine the radius of the oil drop.
3) Measuring the upward terminal velocity in an apposing electric field

Hence, charge in the oil drop can be calculated from these measurements.
 Experimental Setup

Image source: www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/M/Milikan.html

 Procedure
A few oil drops enter the hole through the atomizer.

Source:
John D. Bookstaver, St. Charles Community College, St. Peters, MO
 2006, Prentice Hall, Inc.
 In the absence of electric field, the oil drops are allowed to fall between the plates.

Source:
John D. Bookstaver, St. Charles Community College, St. Peters, MO
 2006, Prentice Hall, Inc.
Stokes’ law gives the expression for the frictional force on small spherical objects moving through a viscous fluid.
The force of viscosity is given by:
𝐹𝑑 = 6𝜋𝜂𝑟𝑣

Drops fall under gravity only

4 𝐹1 = 6𝜋𝜂𝑟𝑣1
If r is the radius of the drop of oil of density Do , then weight of the drop = 3 𝜋𝑟 3 𝐷𝑜 𝑔.

4
The upthrust force by the air = 3 𝜋𝑟 3 𝐷𝑎 𝑔.

4
Therefore, resultant downward force = 3 𝜋𝑟 3 𝐷𝑜 − 𝐷𝑎 𝑔
𝑣1
While moving downwards, the drop acquires terminal velocity v1 ,then by applying Stokes’
law we have:
4 3
𝜋𝑟 𝐷𝑜 − 𝐷𝑎 𝑔 = 6𝜋𝜂𝑟𝑣1
3
1
9𝜂𝑣1 2 4 3
Hence, we get 𝑟 = 𝜋𝑟 𝐷𝑜 − 𝐷𝑎 𝑔
2 𝐷𝑜 −𝐷𝑎 𝑔 3
 Potential difference is applied between plates which exerts a force on the charged drops.

Source:
John D. Bookstaver, St. Charles Community College, St. Peters, MO
 2006, Prentice Hall, Inc.
 When the electric flied is applied between the plates, some of the drops will start to rise.

Source:
John D. Bookstaver, St. Charles Community College, St. Peters, MO
 2006, Prentice Hall, Inc.
When electric field is applied

If q is the charge on the drop and E is the electric field

qE (electric force)
applied between the plates, so when the drop begins to
move upwards with a terminal velocity 𝑣2 , then

4
Resultant upward force = qE − 𝜋𝑟 3 𝐷𝑜 − 𝐷𝑎 g E (electric field)
3

So we have:
4 3
qE − 𝜋𝑟 𝐷𝑜 − 𝐷𝑎 = 6𝜋𝜂𝑟𝑣2
3 𝑣2 𝐹2 = 6𝜋𝜂𝑟𝑣2

⇒ qE = 6𝜋𝜂𝑟 𝑣1 + 𝑣2
mg
Substituting the value of r we get:

1
3 2𝑣1 2 𝑣1 + 𝑣2
𝑞 = 𝑛𝑒 = 9𝜋𝜂 2 𝑑
𝑔 𝐷𝑜 − 𝐷𝑎 𝑉
 It also showed that charge is quantized – an object can only have charge with a magnitude that
is some integral of the charge of an electron.

Source:
John D. Bookstaver, St. Charles Community College, St. Peters, MO
 2006, Prentice Hall, Inc.
Observations
MOTION OF THE DROP UNDER MOTION OF THE DROP IN THE VOLTAGE
GRAVITY ONLY PRESENCE OF ELECTRIC FIELD APPLIED
Actual Actual
Divisions Divisions
distance t1 (s) v1 (ms-1) distance t1 (s) v1 (ms-1) volts
on scale on scale
(m) (m)
20.0 0.000625 15.09 4.14182E-05 20.0 0.000625 17.07 8.84017E-05 10.00

20.0 0.000625 24.04 2.59983E-05 20.0 0.000625 16.06 3.89166E-05 35.00

20.0 0.000625 20.02 3.12188E-05 20.0 0.000625 20.5 3.04878E-05 115.00

20.0 0.000625 15.09 4.14182E-05 20.0 0.000625 21.01 2.97477E-05 20.00

Result
Experimentally, average electronic charge came out to be 1.6225 × 10−19 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑏.

Theoretical value of electronic charge is 1.6021 × 10−19 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑏.

Percentage Error = 1.2%

Error value = 0.0194 × 10−19 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑏

Hence, the value of electronic charge by Millikan’s method came out to be 1.62 ± 0.0194 × 10−19 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑏.
Thank You