We report on the ease and efficacy of using digital video microscopy techniques and computer software for analyzing data from the Millikan oil-drop experiment in an introductory physics laboratory course setting with applications for more advanced laboratories.
REFERENCES
1.
For a description of the experiment see Robert A. Millikan, Electrons (+ and −), Protons, Photons, Neutrons, Mesotrons, and Cosmic Rays, 2nd ed. (University of Chicago, Chicago, 1947), pp. 66–124.
2.
R. P.
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See 〈http://www.sargentwelch.com〉 for a listing of the latest Millikan pricing information as well as a link to the Ken-a-Vision VideoFlex Camera.
6.
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For an example of this camera and TV monitor approach, see
A.
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, C. M.
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, and H.
Sakai
, “Novel Approach to the Oil-Drop Experiment
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Timothy Ferris, Seeing in the Dark: How backyard stargazers are probing deep space and guarding earth from interplanetary peril (Simon and Schuster, New York, 2002).
9.
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R. A.
Millikan
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,” Phys. Rev.
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(1911
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A. C. Mellisinos, Experiments in Modern Physics (Academic, New York, 1966), pp. 2–8.
12.
More information about the Videopoint software can be found at the Lenox Softworks Inc. website at 〈http://www.lsw.com〉.
13.
Our movie file sizes ranged from 3 to 5 MB for between 10 and 15 s of video capture (the VideoPoint capture program will compress files as prompted). Students may therefore save many runs without difficulty to a CD-Rom, a Zip disk, or the hard drive of an accessible laboratory computer. If the computer is networked, students can e-mail themselves a copy of a particular run as an attached document.
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© 2005 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2005
American Association of Physics Teachers
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