Lord Rayleigh calculated the size of a single molecule using only oil, water, and a pen, inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s observations in 1770 of calming ocean waves with oil. Franklin’s oil drop experiment was just one of his many scientific achievements, but Rayleigh’s interpretation of it in 1890 allowed him to estimate the dimensions of a single molecule as 1.63 nanometers, close to the actual measurement of 1.67 nanometers. This simple yet groundbreaking experiment showcases how profound scientific insights can arise from basic tools and clever thinking, highlighting the power of ingenuity over complex equipment in uncovering nature’s mysteries.
https://www.atomsonly.news/p/franklin-oil