Q.
The current of a conductor flowing through a conductor in terms of the drift speed of electrons is (the symbols have their usual meanings)
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NTA AbhyasNTA Abhyas 2020Current Electricity
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Solution:
Relation between current and drift velocity : Consider a conductor of length l and area of cross – section A having n electrons per unit length, as shown in the figure.
The volume of the conductor = Al ∴ Total number of electrons in the conductor
= Volume × electron density = Aln
If e is the charge of an electron, then
total charge contained in the conductor, Q=enAl
Let a potential difference V is applied across the conductor. The resulting electric field in the conductor is given by E=lV
Under the influence of this field E, free electrons begin to drift in a direction opposite to that of the field. Time taken by electrons to cross – over the conductor is t=vdl
where, vd is the drift velocity of electrons.
Therefore, the current through the conductor is given by I=tQ=I/vdenAl
or I=neAvd ⇒Iαvd[∵n,e,A are all constant]
Hence, Current density is proportional to drift velocity.