Home
Class 12
PHYSICS
IF the electron drift speed is so small ...

IF the electron drift speed is so small and the electron's charge is also small,then how can we still obtain a large amount of current in a conductor?

Text Solution

Verified by Experts

The number of free electrons in metals is of the order of `10^(29)` per `"metre"^3` of a meterial. This number is so huge that the overall electric current can be quite large even if the drift speed of electrons may not be large.
Promotional Banner

Topper's Solved these Questions

  • CURRENT ELECTRICITY

    MODERN PUBLICATION|Exercise TOUGH AND TRICKY PROBLEMS|23 Videos

  • CURRENT ELECTRICITY

    MODERN PUBLICATION|Exercise NCERT SOLVED (NCERT Textbook Exercises)|13 Videos

  • CURRENT ELECTRICITY

    MODERN PUBLICATION|Exercise PRACTICE PROBLEMS|71 Videos

  • ATOMS

    MODERN PUBLICATION|Exercise Chapter Practice Test|16 Videos

  • DUAL NATURE OF RADIATION AND MATTER

    MODERN PUBLICATION|Exercise CHAPTER PRACTICE TEST|15 Videos

Similar Questions

Explore conceptually related problems

(a) In Example 3.1, the electron drift speed is estimated to be only a few mm s^(-1) for currents in the range of a few amperes? How then is current established almost the instant a circuit is closed? (b) The electron drift arises due to the force experienced by electrons in the electric field inside the conductor. But force should cause acceleration. Why then do the electrons acquire a steady average drift speed? (c) If the electron drift speed is so small, and the electron’s charge is small, how can we still obtain large amounts of current in a conductor? (d) When electrons drift in a metal from lower to higher potential, does it mean that all the ‘free’ electrons of the metal are moving in the same direction? (e) Are the paths of electrons straight lines between successive collisions (with the positive ions of the metal) in the (i) absence of electric field, (ii) presence of electric field?

We are able to obtain fairly large currents in a conductor because

If the value of drift speed of electrons inside a conduct is very low , can we measure it with the help of a microscope ?

MODERN PUBLICATION-CURRENT ELECTRICITY-CONCEPTUAL QUESTIONS
  1. Arrange aluminum, silver copper and iron in the increasing order of co...

    Text Solution

    |

  2. give examples of materials whose electrical resistivity decreases with...

    Text Solution

    |

  3. What is the effect of temperature on the resistivity of alloys ?

    Text Solution

    |

  4. What is a fuse wire ?

    Text Solution

    |

  5. Explain that magniture of current which can melt a fuse wire is indepe...

    Text Solution

    |

  6. Why does the resistivity of metal increase with an increase in tempera...

    Text Solution

    |

  7. Explain free electron model of conduction.

    Text Solution

    |

  8. Name the charge carriers responsible for conduction of electricity in ...

    Text Solution

    |

  9. Why is Manganin one of the preferred materials to make standard resist...

    Text Solution

    |

  10. How do you differentiate between an ohmic and a non-ohmic resistor ?

    Text Solution

    |

  11. Can we say that all free electrons move in the same direction in a con...

    Text Solution

    |

  12. FORCE ON CURRENT CARRYING CONDUCTOR IN MAGNETIC FIELD

    Text Solution

    |

  13. Electric field inside a conductor is always zero. Is this statement tr...

    Text Solution

    |

  14. We know that electric current flows through a conductor only when some...

    Text Solution

    |

  15. IF the electron drift speed is so small and the electron's charge is a...

    Text Solution

    |

  16. Let a potential difference V be applied across a cylindrical conducto...

    Text Solution

    |

  17. We prefer magainin wire to make a potentiometer. Why do not we use cop...

    Text Solution

    |

  18. How does the internal resistance of a battery changes with temperature...

    Text Solution

    |

  19. How is the internal resistance of a battery affected by the separation...

    Text Solution

    |

  20. Can the terminal potential difference of a cell exceed its e.m.f. ?

    Text Solution

    |