Question

The charge on an electron is _________ coulombs, which cannot be subdivided.

Answer 1

Discovery

• In 1914, a physicist Robert Andrews Millikan, performed an experiment to determine the magnitude of the charge on an electron. This experiment is known as RA Millikan's oil drop experiment.
• In this experiment, he applied a high potential difference between two horizontal metal metallic plates, which were held apart by an insulating material.
• When oil was sprayed into a chamber above the plates, it obtained an electric charge and begin to rise.
• Calculations were performed and the charge on the electron was found to be $1.6\times {10}^{-19}$ coulombs.

So, the charge on an electron is $1.6\times {10}^{-19}$ coulombs, which cannot be subdivided.