Some historical analyses suggest he may have selectively discarded measurements that deviated from his expected value. For centuries, electricity was a mysterious, invisible force, but this painstaking work quantified its smallest possible unit, forever changing the landscape of physics.
Measuring the Electron's Charge: Millikan's Historical Experiment and Its Lasting Impact
Scientists knew that electric current was carried by electrons, but they lacked a definitive measurement of the electron's charge. Calculating the Charge With the droplet suspended, the forces were in equilibrium: the downward gravitational force (F_gravity) was exactly matched by the upward electrical force (F_electric).
By precisely adjusting the voltage across the plates, Millikan could manipulate the electric field to perfectly balance the gravitational force on a single droplet, causing it to hover motionless. He repeated this process for numerous droplets, each time isolating a different particle.
Measuring the Electron's Charge: Millikan's Groundbreaking Work
The value for the electron’s charge determined by Millikan is still used today in modern physics constants. The prevailing theories suggested that charge might be a continuous phenomenon, much like the flow of water.
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