The electron, its isolation and measurement and the determination of some of its properties

This volume offers a clear, narrative journey through the early days of modern physics, tracing how the once‑mysterious phenomenon of electricity evolved into the precise science of the electron. Millikan guides listeners from the ancient observations of amber’s static charge to the breakthrough experiments that first isolated the particle, explaining the key ideas without drowning you in heavy mathematics—those details sit in handy appendices for the curious mind. Along the way, you’ll meet the pivotal figures and experiments that turned speculative theory into measurable fact.

The book then explores how the electron’s charge and mass were painstakingly measured, revealing the ingenious methods—like oil‑drop experiments and X‑ray ionization—that unlocked its properties. It also touches on related topics such as Brownian motion, the structure of atoms, and the nature of radiant energy, showing how each discovery built on the last. Listeners will come away with a vivid sense of how a single tiny particle reshaped our understanding of the physical world.