Question

How electric current flows in a metal.

Answer 1

Dear Student ,
In case of a metal the charge carriers are electrons .Now this charges will flow if we apply some potential difference across the metal obeying Ohm's law .Now current through a metal will be measured in Ampere unit .Now when electric current flows it flows as a drift of free electrons in the metal .Electricity flows easily as the electrons are free to move around the metal .Whenever there is a movement of electrons through a metal an electric current is created .Current can also divided in to two types AC and DC .
When current only flows in the same direction , i.e only one direction then it is said as the direct current . But when the current flows back and forth and not in one direction then this type of current is said to be alternating current .
So after connecting by a battery the free electrons get accelerated by the electric field and gain velocity and energy .The electrons collide with the lattice ions and in which the ultimate gainer (gainer of energy) is the ions .As we know that the temperature of the body is related with the energy of vibrations with these ions , this collisions increase in the temperature of the metal .The loss of energy in collision of the electrons and their acceleration by the electric field finally results in drifting of electrons in a particular direction .Resultantly current flows through the metal .
Regards