Moderate

At room temperature, copper has free electron density of 8.4 x 10^28 m-3. The electron drift velocity in a copper conductor of cross-sectional area 10-6 m2 and carrying a current of 5.4 A, will be:

Correct answer: D. 0.4 mms-1

  • A. 4 ms-1
  • B. 0.4 ms-1
  • C. 4 cms-1
  • D. 0.4 mms-1

Explanation

To determine the drift velocity (vd), use the formula vd = i/(neA), where i is the current, n is the free electron density, e is the elementary charge, and A is the cross-sectional area. Given that the current i is 5.4 A, the electron density n is 8.4 × 1028 m-3, and the area A is 10-6 m2, the drift velocity calculates to approximately 0.4 mm/s. Options A, B, and C are incorrect because they either miscalculate the drift velocity or misinterpret the units, resulting in values that do not match the expected range of millimeters per second.

Last updated

About Current Electricity

Steady current relates charge flow to potential difference, resistance and resistivity, including how temperature changes a conductor's resistance. Sources with internal resistance have terminal voltage below their emf when delivering current, and maximum power output occurs under a specific load condition rather than at zero resistance.

Practise Current Electricity

1,052 free Current Electricity MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.

Exams that ask Physics questions like this

Physics is on 13 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.

Related questions