Lecture 11

Quantization of Matter
Molecules are the smallest constituent of matter that
preserve its physical and chemical properties.
A molecule can be further divided into atoms.
An atom is made of a nucleus and electrons.
A nucleus consists of nucleons (neutrons and protons).
A nucleon may be composed of quarks (up, down, strange,
charmed, top, and bottom) and anti-quarks.
Other particles: pions, muons, neutrinos,
Lecture 11
Quantization of Electric Charge
Chemical changes occur when an electric current is passed
through a solution, known as electrolysis.
The mass of a substance liberated at an electrode is
proportional to the total electric charge that has passed
through the solution.
The mass of a substance liberated at an electrode is
proportional to the chemical equivalent of the substance
(the mass of an element or a group of elements which
would displace 1 mole of atomic hydrogen).
By looking at the process quantitatively, Faraday discovered
the following:
Lecture 11
Faradys Law of Electrolysis
Faradays findings can be summarized
mathematically as:
F
Q
n
M

=
where M is the total mass liberated, is atomic or
molecular weight per mole, n is chemical valence,
Q is the electric charge passed through the solution,
and F is the constant of proportionality.
If there is a fundamental unit for electric charge, e, each ion
carries with it a charge q = ne, then we have Q = Nne, where
N is the total number of ions. Therefore,
e
M
N
n
Nne
M
F

= =
Lecture 11
Fundamental Unit of Electric Charge
Specifically, Faraday found that to decompose 1 mole of
monovalent ions requires a total charge of 96,487 C being
passed through the solution.
F = N
A
e
where N
A
is Avogadros number
Therefore, we have
e =
F
N
A
=
96487
6.02 !10
23
= 1.60 !10
"19
C
Lecture 11
Motion of Oil Drops in Air
Ignoring the buoyancy force, an oil drop is under the influence
of only two forces: gravity and frictional force due to air. The
equation of motion is
dt
v
m
k
g
dv
kv mg
dt
dv
m
=
!
! =
Let
dv
m
k
dy
v
m
k
g y
! =
! =
C t
m
k
y
dt
y
dy
k
m
ln ln + ! =
= !
we have
!
"
#
$
%
&
' = ' (
!
"
#
$
%
&
' = ) t
m
k
C v
m
k
g t
m
k
C
y
exp exp
Lecture 11
Terminal Velocity
From the initial conditions: t=0, v=0, we get C=g. Finally, we
have
!
!
"
#
$
$
%
&
' =
' t
m
k
e
k
mg
v 1
It is easy to see that as
k
mg
v t ! " ! ,
terminal velocity
Lecture 11
Faradys Law of Electrolysis
Faradays findings can be summarized
mathematically as:
F
Q
n
M

=
where M is the total mass liberated, is atomic or
molecular weight per mole, n is chemical valence,
Q is the electric charge passed through the solution,
and F is the constant of proportionality.
If there is a fundamental unit for electric charge, e, each ion
carries with it a charge q = ne, then we have Q = Nne, where
N is the total number of ions. Therefore,
e
M
N
n
Nne
M
F

= =
Lecture 11
Millikans Oil Drop Experiment
Schematics: a cross section of two parallel conducting plates
which are connected to a power supply. The top plate has a
pin hole in it, through which oil drops are sprayed.
Lecture 11
In the Presence of Electric Field
The oil drop may acquire static charge from the spray nozzle.
Assuming that it is negatively charged, it experiences a upward
electric force as soon as the power is turn on, as shown. If the
electric force is strong enough, the oil drop will slow down in
its downward motion, stop, turn around and accelerate upward.
It will quickly reach a
new terminal velocity
given by
2
2
kv mg q
d
V
kv mg F
e
+ =
+ =
Lecture 11
In the Presence of Ionized Air
The air between the plates is ionized by X-rays or high-energy
radiation from radioactive substance passing through it. In this
case, the oil drop can acquire additional electric charge, which
disrupts the uniform motion, but, after a short time, a new
terminal velocity is reached by the drop when
( )
3
kv mg q q
d
V
n
+ = +
Therefore, the amount of charge acquired is
) (
2 3
v v k
V
d
q
n
! =
Lecture 11
Effects of Buoyancy
The buoyant force on an oil drop is given by
g m Vg F
a a b
= = !
where !
a
is the density of air, V is the volumn of the oil
drop, and m
a
is thus the mass of the air displaced by the
oil drop.
Therefore, the buoyancy effectively reduces the mass of the oil
drop by m
a,
i.e., m = m
o
- m
a

In summary, the terminal velocity is reached when the frictional
force is equal to the effective weight (mg) of the oil drop, or
when the net force is zero.