plumiPrinciple of Millikan’s determination of the electronic charge, e: AQA A‑Level Physics questions
AQA A-Level Physics past-paper questions on 3.12.1.4 Principle of Millikan’s determination of the electronic charge, e, 2008–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q02.1
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All 24 questions on Principle of Millikan’s determination of the electronic charge, e, as a list
- June 2024, Paper 3 Turning points, Q02.1 (6 marks): Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the arrangement that Millikan used to determine the charge on the electron. Figure 2 Millikan’s initial step was to det
- June 2024, Paper 3 Turning points, Q02.2 (3 marks): On one occasion, the radius of a droplet was determined to be 1.20 × 10−6 m. When the droplet was stationary, the voltmeter reading was 467 V. Show that the cha
- June 2024, Paper 3 Turning points, Q02.3 (3 marks): Table 1 shows the percentage uncertainty in each quantity. Table 1 Quantity Percentage uncertainty radius of oil droplet 4% density of oil 1% gravitational fiel
- June 2023, Paper 3 Turning points, Q02.1 (3 marks): Calculate the viscosity of the air between the plates. [3 marks] viscosity = N s m−2
- June 2023, Paper 3 Turning points, Q02.2 (3 marks): During the experiment, an electric field is produced between the plates and is adjusted until the oil drop is stationary. The electric field strength is 18.8 kV
- June 2022, Paper 3 Turning points, Q02.1 (1 mark): State and explain the sign of the charge on the oil droplet. [1 mark] The variable voltage supply is set to zero volts. The oil drop falls. The constant speed v
- June 2022, Paper 3 Turning points, Q02.2 (3 marks): Show that the mass m of the oil droplet is about 8 × 10−16 kg. [3 marks]
- June 2022, Paper 3 Turning points, Q02.3 (2 marks): The variable voltage supply is adjusted so that the oil droplet rises at a constant speed v2. The potential difference (pd) across the plates is V and the dista
- June 2022, Paper 3 Turning points, Q02.4 (3 marks): The following measurements are made for the droplet in Question 02.2 when it is rising at constant speed. V = 715 V v2 = 1.1 × 10−4 m s−1 The separation of the
- June 2022, Paper 3 Turning points, Q02.5 (3 marks): After Millikan published his results, it was found that he had used a value for the viscosity of air that was smaller than the actual value. Discuss the effect
- June 2019, Paper 3 Turning points, Q01.1 (2 marks): Identify the forces acting on the stationary droplet. In your answer you should state the relationship between the forces. The upthrust on the droplet due to th
- June 2019, Paper 3 Turning points, Q01.2 (3 marks): The potential difference between the plates is changed to zero and the droplet falls at a terminal velocity of 1.0 × 10−4 m s−1. The density of the oil is 880 k
- June 2019, Paper 3 Turning points, Q01.3 (3 marks): The potential difference between the plates is restored to its initial value and the droplet becomes stationary. The charge on the droplet is −4.8 × 10−19 C. A
- June 2015, PHYA5 Turning points (old spec), Q1(c) (6 marks): If the charge on an electron is known then its mass can be determined from the specific charge. Describe how Millikan’s experiment with charged oil droplets ena
- June 2013, PHYA5 Turning points (old spec), Q1(a)(i) (4 marks): With the switch S open, the droplet fell vertically at a constant velocity of 1.1 × 10–4 ms–1. Show that the radius of the droplet is about 1.0 × 10–6 m. Assume
- June 2013, PHYA5 Turning points (old spec), Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Calculate the mass of the droplet. mass kg (1 mark)
- June 2013, PHYA5 Turning points (old spec), Q1(a)(iii) (3 marks): The switch S was closed and the potential difference from the voltage supply was adjusted gradually to reduce the downward motion of the droplet. The droplet st
- June 2013, PHYA5 Turning points (old spec), Q1(b) (4 marks): The mass of another charged droplet was found to be 4.3 × 10–15 kg. With switch S closed and the voltage supply at its maximum value of 1000V, this droplet fell
- June 2011, PHYA5 Turning points (old spec), Q2(a)(i) (2 marks): By considering the forces acting on the droplet as it falls at its terminal velocity, v, show that the radius, r, of the droplet is given by r = where η is the
- June 2011, PHYA5 Turning points (old spec), Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Explain how the mass of the oil droplet can be determined from its radius, r. (1 mark)
- June 2011, PHYA5 Turning points (old spec), Q2(b)(i) (3 marks): The two horizontal parallel metal plates were 5.0mm apart. The mass of the droplet was 6.8 × 10 –15kg. The droplet was held stationary when the plate pd was 690
- June 2011, PHYA5 Turning points (old spec), Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): Millikan made the first accurate measurements of the charge carried by charged oil droplets. Outline what Millikan concluded from these measurements. (2 marks)
- June 2008, PHA8W (2008 spec), Q2(a) (6 marks): 2 (a) When the potential difference between the two plates is zero, the droplet falls vertically at a steady speed of 7.8 × 10 –5m s –1. density of oil droplet
- June 2008, PHA8W (2008 spec), Q2(b) (5 marks): 2 (b) The potential difference between X and Y is adjusted until the droplet becomes stationary. 2 (b) (i) Explain why the droplet becomes stationary. 2 (b) (ii
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