CAIE A-Level Physics 9.1.2 Quantisation of Charge

Practise explaining charge quantisation, identifying possible or impossible values and using the elementary charge to calculate carrier number or charge.

Exam points

explain that charge is quantised in discrete multiples of the elementary charge
identify possible or impossible charge values and use the elementary charge to determine a carrier count or charge

[Maximum number: 1]

A spherical oil drop has a radius of $1.2 \times 10^{-6} \mathrm{~m}$ . The density of the oil is $940 \mathrm{~kg} \mathrm{~m}^{-3}$ .

The oil drop is charged. Explain why it is impossible for the magnitude of the charge to be $8.0 \times 10^{-20} \mathrm{C}$ .

minimum charge (on drop) is $1.6 \times 10^{-19} \mathrm{C}$

B1

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9.1.2—The charge on charge carriers is quantised question 1