Robert Millikan

Measured the electron's charge with oil drops and verified Einstein's photoelectric equation.

Specifications & Metrics

era

1868 – 1953

nobel prize

Physics, 1923

Core Principles & Analysis

• His oil-drop experiment from 1909 to 1913 measured the elementary charge and proved charge quantization.
• His photoelectric measurements confirmed Einstein's equation and yielded a precise value of Planck's constant.
• Won the 1923 Nobel Prize in Physics for both achievements.