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Question
Define relaxation time.
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Solution
Relaxation time is the time interval between two successive collisions of electrons in a conductor when current flows.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Estimate the average drift speed of conduction electrons in a copper wire of cross-sectional area 2·5 × 10−7 m2 carrying a current of 2·7 A. Assume the density of conduction electrons to be 9 × 1028 m−3
The number density of free electrons in a copper conductor is 8.5 × 1028 m−3. How long does an electron take to drift from one end of a wire 3.0 m long to its other end? The area of cross-section of the wire is 2.0 × 10−6 m2 and it is carrying a current of 3.0 A.
(a) drift speed
(b) current density
(c) electric current
(d) electric field
Explain the term ‘drift velocity’ of electrons in conductor. Hence obtain the expression for the current through a conductor in terms of ‘drift velocity’.
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?
Obtain the expression for the current flowing through a conductor having number density of the electron n, area of cross-section A in terms of the drift velocity vd .
The relaxation time τ is nearly independent of applied E field whereas it changes significantly with temperature T. First fact is (in part) responsible for Ohm’s law whereas the second fact leads to variation of ρ with temperature. Elaborate why?
Derive an expression for resistivity of a conductor in terms of the number density of charge carriers in the conductor and relaxation time.
Explain how free electrons in a metal at constant temperature attain an average velocity under the action of an electric field. Hence, obtain an expression for it.
The drift velocity of electrons in a conductor connected to a battery is given by vd = `(−"eE" τ)/"m"`. Here, e is the charge of the electron, E is the electric field, τ is the average time between collisions and m is the mass of the electron.
Based on this, answer the following:
- How does the drift velocity change with a change in the potential difference across the conductor?
- A copper wire of length 'l' is connected to a source. If the copper wire is replaced by another copper wire of the same area of cross-section but of length '4l', how will the drift velocity change? Explain your answer.
