Daily Archives: December 10, 2017

Van de Graaff Generator — December 20 is Robert Van de Graaff’s birthday. Van de Graaff was an American physicist who invented the Van de Graaff electrostatic generator. Small Van de Graaff generators are common sights at science demonstrations to illustrate the effects of electrical charges. The most common sight is someone with long, fine […]

Today in Science History – December 20 – Van de ...

This entry was posted on December 10, 2017 by Todd Helmenstine (updated on May 16, 2021)

Robert Andrews Millikan — December 19 marks the passing of Robert Millikan. Millikan was an American physicist best known for his famous oil drop experiment. The purpose of this experiment was to measure the charge of an electron. Millikan and Harvey Fletcher sprayed charged drops of oil between two horizontal charged plates. Gravity pulls […]

Today in Science History – December 19 – Robert Millikan ...

This entry was posted on December 10, 2017 by Todd Helmenstine (updated on December 19, 2021)

J.J. Thomson (1856 - 1940) — December 18 is J. J. Thomson’s birthday. Thomson was a British physicist who is best known for the discovery of the electron. He was investigating the discharge of gases in a cathode ray tube. He theorized cathode rays were made up of ‘corpuscles’ or particles smaller than atoms. He also […]

Today in Science History – December 18 – J. J. ...

This entry was posted on December 10, 2017 by Todd Helmenstine (updated on November 5, 2023)