Question

Estimate the average drift speed of conduction electrons in a copper wire of cross-sectional area $1.0\times {10}^{-7}{m}^2$ carrying a current of 1.5 A. Assume the density of conduction electrons to be $9\times {10}^{28}{m}^{-3}$

Answer 1

Drift velocity is given by:

$v_d=J/ne$

$v_d=\frac{I}{neA}$

$v_d=\frac{1.5}{9\times {10}^{28}\times 1.6\times {10}^{-19}\times {10}^{-7}}$

$v_d=1.042\times {10}^{-3}m/s$