Chapter 20, Problem 78MSPP

Another way to sort the droplets would be to give each droplet the same charge, then vary the electric field between the deflection plates. For the apparatus as sketched, this technique will not work because

A. Several droplets are between the plates at one time, and they would all feel the same force.

B. The cells in the solution have net charges that would affect the droplet charge.

C. A droplet with a net charge would always experience a net force between the plates.

D. The droplets would all repel each other, and this force would dominate the deflecting force.