Question

A chemist in an imaginary universe, where electrons have a different charge than they do in our universe, performs the Millikan oil drop experiment to measure the electron's charge. The charges of several drops are recorded below. What is the charge of the electron in this imaginary universe? Drop # A-charge 6.6 ⋅10−19C, Drop# Bcharge -8.8 ⋅10−19C, Drop# C charge -11.0 ⋅10−19C, Drop# D charge -4.4 ⋅10−19C.

Answer 1

answer : - 2.2 x 10^-19

the idea is the number of electrons is a whole number. So you need to find a charge that a "whole multiple" will satisfy all the charges on the drops...

let X = the charge...a, b, c, and d are whole

aX = -6.6 x10^-19

bX = -8.8 x10^-19

cX = -11.0 x10^-19

dX = -4.4 x10^-19

if you look at the difference between bX and cX, you see a difference of 2.2 x10^-19.. That's the smallest difference

and...

3 x (-2.2 x10^-19) = - 6.6 x10^-19

4 x (-2.2 x10^-19) = - 8.8 x10^-19

5 x (-2.2 x10^-19) = - 11.0 x10^-19

2 x (-2.2 x10^-19) = - 4.4 x10^-19

so the charge of the imaginary electron is -2.2 x10^-19 C