This project funds the devlopment of an apparatus for the Millikan oil drop experiment that will permit a student, working without assistance, to complete all phases of the experiment efficiently and accurately. The apparatus takes advantage of video recording to separate the functions of data acquisition and data analysis. The oil drop experiment is pedagogically attractive, but it is not popular with students and does not fulfill its potential because the execution has been so cumbersome. With modern technology brought to bear on the problem, it is hoped that the experiment can be raised to a favored position in the laboratory repertoire.
