Teaching Modern Physics - QuarkNet - Fermilab
Teaching Modern Physics - QuarkNet - Fermilab
Teaching Modern Physics - QuarkNet - Fermilab
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Millikan’s Experiment<br />
Draw on the student’s experimentation with the sticky tapes. . . .<br />
What would happen to an electron if it were near a negatively charged tape?<br />
(Repel)<br />
What would happen if an electron were placed near a positively charged tape?<br />
(Attract)<br />
If the electron has mass, what would the electron do under the influence of Earth’s gravitational<br />
field?<br />
(Fall down . . .)<br />
How could you design an experiment to make an electron stop falling to the Earth?<br />
You get to use an electron, Earth’s gravity, a negatively charged plate and a positively charged<br />
plate.<br />
(The experiment designed should always have the force of gravity (weight) of the electron<br />
balanced by the electric force of the field created by the charged plates. See diagram on website<br />
listed below.)<br />
This website has an excellent discussion with a link which simulates the experiment. The student<br />
needs to cause the electron to stop falling in the electric field.<br />
http://www68.pair.com/willisb/millikan/experiment.html<br />
(This site is nice, but the Java application/demo of Millikan’s Experiment freezes the computer<br />
eventually. . . .)<br />
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