Which scientist is credited with determining the charge of the electron through the oil drop experiment?

• A. Niels Bohr
• B. J.J. Thomson
• C. Robert Millikan
• D. Ernest Rutherford

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the historical context of the discovery of the electron's charge. Several scientists contributed to the study of the electron, but the specific measurement of its charge was a key milestone.
2. Recall that J.J. Thomson is credited with discovering the electron as a particle, but he did not measure its charge.
3. Recognize that Robert Millikan performed the famous oil drop experiment, which allowed him to measure the elementary charge of the electron precisely.
4. Note that Niels Bohr contributed to atomic structure theory, and Ernest Rutherford is known for the nuclear model of the atom, but neither measured the electron's charge.
5. Therefore, the scientist credited with determining the charge of the electron through the oil drop experiment is Robert Millikan.