[Phys-L] Millikan Expt. (was Lab reports)

["David T. Marx" <marx@PHY.ILSTU.EDU>]

I like the Pasco apparatus very much, especially compared to the one I used as an
undergrad.  The majority of students do this experiment quite well and the percent error
is generally very small.  The major draw back is the use of a stop watch.  I am thinking
of getting the video adapter so that we can record the motion of the drops and then use
video analysis software to determine the velocities.

Has any one done this?  Any thoughts on doing this?



On 6 May 2005 at 17:02, Michael Edmiston wrote:

> David Marx reports the student comment... "Subequent conversations with
> the other experimenters revealed that they would rather be wrong than go
> into the lab to take more data using the correct method.  So, the
> results reported here will likely be wrong."
>
> We also have the Pasco Millikan system, which is quite a nice system.
> One of the things I like about this experiment is that it is very
> frustrating and helps students understand what Millikan's assistants
> went through, for a rather long period of time.
>
> Every time I suggested that maybe they should take more data, it was
> like I was sending them to the torture chamber.  I think just about
> every student thinks it is the most difficult experiment they have done.
>
> I heard comments similar to what David heard.  I even heard... "If we
> all boycotted this lab, you wouldn't flunk us all would you?"  I said,
> "Go ahead.  Make my day.  Nothing is easier to grade than nothing."
>
>
> Michael D. Edmiston, Ph.D.
> Professor of Physics and Chemistry
> Bluffton University
> Bluffton, OH 45817
> (419)-358-3270
> edmiston@bluffton.edu
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