Charge of an Electron: Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment 

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Hey everyone, I'm here to help. If you have any questions or just want to learn more, click on the link in the description above. It'll take you to a page where you can ask me questions.

Why other chemistry teachers can’t explain like this?!

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Very good video, shame he got mixed up on the charge of the oil drop. The x-rays that radiate through the walls of the vessel ionise the oil drop, hence giving it a negative charge. This also means that the + and - plates need to be swapped, otherwise the electric force would be in the same direction as the gravitational force (+ plate attracts negatively charges atoms)

you seem to be one of the finest chemistry teachers. I'm from india, it's very competitive up here. people only focus on formulae and derivations.

I found this video on a random youtube search base on a random youtube comment to maybe see something cool, and this is genuinely one of the most fantastic scientific demonstrations i have ever seen. Your ability to pace the explanations step by step is something i strive to do myself, and your kinesthetic sense to work with your paper stuff is absolutely phenomenal. I was genuinely in awe at every little diagram and how you were able to fluidly make each dynamic object move in the way that you had. This is one of my favorite videos i have ever seen.

Best explanation of this experiment on youtube. Hands down.

The explanation still holds even after 10years🤯🎉🎉

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not what i was looking for, but I was really impressed how well you broke this down! I really like your style of teaching

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My textbook said that the falling oil drops are given a neg charge by x rays

Just discovered this video of yours, first one I have ever seen. You are amazing. So descriptive and easy to understand. Hopefully I can pass my chemistry test tomorrow!

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I was so confused in my Chem lecture about Milikan's Experiment, but this video cleared it right up! Thanks for this :)

Nicely explained Tyler. Just an addition, they use X rays to knock off electrons on the way from negative to the positive plate that is why the oil drop is positive.

2:40 for anyone wondering how the oil drops got charged, it was such that x rays were passed through the system, which ionised the gas particles inside it. Due to collison with the gaseous ions, the oil drops gained a charge. Hope it helps

I seriously think you don't understand how much this helps me out. I might just make it through chemistry and algebra because of you. Thank you thank you

This was an amazing explanation of this experiment. Just wish you had included the x-rays that were put through it to make the oil droplets change charge.

I love these videos! Keep em coming. I'm a math/cs major in university and have decided to re-learn chemistry for fun and these videos are great at clearing up some of the basics.

By far the best explanation of how the oil experiment worked. You're the best! Keep doing what you're doing.

I’m so astonish about the accurate, clear, and easy explanation. He’s a very good professor, congratulations.

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when you have a chemistry test tomorrow and missed this part of the lecture...

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I have to agree with previous commentary, this is a top-rate explanation and I truly appreciate the thought and design you put into it. You have lucky students!

Tyler, I'm impressed! I am a 17 year old physics student in Scotland, I also suffer from ADHD/ADD thus making lectures/lessons hard to follow, but you make it easy, so I must thank you. I also wonder, why are your views so low? You have a great channel with awesome content. Keep up the excellent and very helpful work ;)

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Its quite mixed up . The exact thing should be that the upper plate is to be + and the bottom plate is the - more over, the oil droplets doesn't contain the positive charge but a negative charge . The oil droplet got this charge from the beam passed through by the x rays

Sir, I'd just like to say that your way of explaining is perfect. Thank you very much for this

This is like the best video on the oil drop experiment. I tried reading 3 books about this but couldn't understand this. This guy just made it so easy!

The drops are balance. As all things should be. Awesome class btw.

Great work .. May God bless u Tyler

Wowow. This helped a lot! I really like the visuals you give!

I have watched several videos on this experiment. This one is the best so far.

How do the oil drops lose their electrons on their way down?

Nobody can explain like this, thank you so much 😇

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You forgot the X-ray to ionize the droplets.

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I like the video! One question: Why do the oil drops loose electrons on their way downwards?

Great video ..it was very helpful! But I have a question : Why the used oil ???

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Jeah problem is that they don't know the mass of the drop right...

why do some of the droplets lose electrons on their way down?

I wish all teachers had the will the patience and skill to teach like you sir

Thanks! I have a physics test on electrostatics this week and this really helped me understand! Great video!

but when the forces balances, shouldn't the oil drop keep its current motion(in this case, a constant velocity)?

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Thanks for this! My class loved it! Keep up the great work....

I think you have made a mistake. There are x rays in the real experiment. X rays hit the electrons in the air and electrons split from their nucleus. Oil drops that are sprayed on the air takes the electrons and become negatively charged. The top plate is positively charged so it pulls the oil drops. Other than that your explanation is perfect. When you think about it you can realize that there is no effect on the oil drops to make them positively charged so there is a mistake. If it is complicated for you, this link explains better than me: global.britannica.com/science/Millikan-oil-drop-experiment English is not my first language sorry for any fault.

Sir, how and why does the oil drop lose its electron while passing through the metal plates??

Thanks for mentioning Harvey Fletcher! This is a very engaging explanation.

Your videos are so great! They are really helpful! Thanks and keep making awesome videos. I noticed a minor error in the video. You have written Coloumbs instead of Coulombs. I was very surprised when nobody mentioned this in the comments.

why do the oil lose their electrons when they drop down????

how they measure the droplets mass?

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Better than best!

The amount of paper this guy uses... xD

wonderful and clear explanation my friend, :) thank you sooooo much! I can see that you enjoy explaining these processes and I know for sure that you will be greatly rewarded for your generosity in sharing your knowledge with those who need it most :)

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I think you got the charges of the plates reversed. Also, you didnt say anything about the xray that he used to add charge to the oil droplets. Research again please. And redo this video.

This guy is awesome. I love how he has the work already written out. I hate waiting for the teachers to write it on the paper because it is so time consuming like Khan academy. Great video. Very easy to understand

Great Work Tyler...

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One thing which you can't tell in this lecture Will you tell the reason why some oil drop looses electron There is also a radiation producing instrument joint between plates And the way you teach is excellent Thanks for such a great job

So good description!

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I love the way you used the paper graphics.

I was reading the book and trying to understand this experiment, for some reason I couldn't have a sense of intuitive to it but after watching this awesome guy, it just clickked YOU ARE AMAZING TYLER, I WISH YOU THE BEST

Splendid presentation! Thank you. I’m looking forward to learning more from your fine videos. First in a New York Times polling, Science's 10 Most Beautiful Physics Experiments’ summary of Millikan/Fletcher 1909-1913 experiments (#3) shows the bottom plate with a negative charge and the top with a positive charge. … coulomb :I:

I'm always so impressed with the visual aid

Tyler, thank you so muchhhhhh I love you, you helped me pass my chemistry class with an easy A. My teacher was good but in a class of 100+ students its hard to get a one on one attention from professor. Again tank you for what you do.