The Size of Molecules: You Have a Small Flask of Oil

Essay

The Size of Molecules: You have a small flask of oil. You pour this oil onto a clear, calm pool of water and watch the oil slick spread out slowly with time. Imagine that it is your belief that the oil is not a continuous substance but made of individual particles called "molecules." Assuming this hypothesis is true, can you make a testable prediction on how the oil slick will behave as it spreads? Will this prediction allow you to estimate the size of the "molecules"? Search online to see if there is any evidence that the Greeks attempted such an experiment.