Let g_E and g_M denote the acceleration due to gravity at the surfaces of the Earth and the Moon, respectively. If Millikan’s oil-drop experiment is carried out on both surfaces, what would be the ratio of the electronic charge measured on the Moon to that measured on the Earth?

Question

Accepted Answer

1. The charge on an electron is a fundamental constant, independent of local gravity. Millikan's experiment yields the same e on Moon and Earth, so the ratio is 1.

Let g_E and g_M denote the acceleration due to gravity at the surfaces of the Earth and the Moon, respectively. If Millikan’s oil-drop experiment is carried out on both surfaces, what would be the ratio of the electronic charge measured on the Moon to that measured on the Earth?

Solution

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