Robert Millikan was an American experimental physicist who played a significant role in the field of science. He was born on March 22, 1868, in Morrison, Illinois, and died on December 19, 1953, in San Marino, California.
Millikan is most widely known for his determination of the elementary electric charge and his work on the photoelectric effect, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1923. His experiment, known as the oil-drop experiment, involved the measurement of tiny electric charges carried by oil droplets. Through meticulous observation and calculation, Millikan determined the charge of an electron to be approximately 1.6 x 10^-19 coulombs, an essential constant in physics.
In addition to his groundbreaking oil-drop experiment, Millikan contributed extensively to other areas of physics, including the determination of the fundamental electronic charge, the measurement of Planck's constant, and the study of thermal conductivity. His meticulous methods and attention to detail made him a pioneer in precision measurement techniques.
Robert Millikan's contributions to the field of physics extended beyond his experiments. He also played a prominent role in academia, holding positions at the University of Chicago and California Institute of Technology. As director of the Norman Bridge Laboratory of Physics at Caltech, he established an environment conducive to scientific research and inspired numerous students and colleagues.
Through his experiments and teachings, Robert Millikan made significant contributions to our understanding of the fundamental properties of matter and the behavior of electrically charged particles, leaving an indelible impact on the scientific community.
