It is known that the drift velocity of electrons is only a few mm/s for a current of a few amperes. How is it possible that a current is established almost instantaneously when a circuit is closed?

For example, a bulb glows as soon as the connection is switched on

The current is established almost instantaneously because an electric field is set up in the electric circuit as soon as it is closed, almost with the speed of light.

  • This leads to drift of local electron at each point in the circuit.
  • The establishment of a current does not require individual electrons to move from one end to the other end of the conductor.
  • Each free electron in the conductor accelerates due to the effect of the electric field until it collides with a positive metal ion and loses its drift velocity.
  • The electrons go through a continuous collision cycle and successive loosing of drift speed until an average drift speed is obtained.

Related Questions

  1. Write Two Differences Between Emf And Potential Difference.
  2. What Are Two Kinds Of Electricity?
  3. Why Potentiometer Is Preferred Over Voltmeter?
  4. Define: 1 volt, Potential difference.
  5. Two conducting wires X and Y of the same diameter but different materials are joined in series across a battery. If the number density of electrons in X is twice that in Y, find the ratio of the drift velocity of electrons in the two wires.

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CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

  • 1.
    Assertion (A) : All atoms have a net magnetic moment. Reason (R) : A current loop does not always behave as a magnetic dipole.

      • Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
      • Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
      • Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
      • Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are false.

    • 2.
      What is displacement current (\( i_d \))? Considering the case of charging of a capacitor, show that \( i_d = \varepsilon_0 \frac{d\Phi_E}{dt} \). What is the value of \( i_d \) for a conductor across which a constant voltage is applied?


        • 3.
          Four independent waves are expressed as \[ (i)\; y_1=A_1\sin\omega t, \] \[ (ii)\; y_2=A_2\sin 2\omega t, \] \[ (iii)\; y_3=A_3\cos\omega t, \] \[ (iv)\; y_4=A_4\sin\left(\omega t+\frac{\pi}{3}\right) \] The interference between two of these waves is possible in

            • (i) and (iii) only
            • (iii) and (iv) only
            • (i), (iii) and (iv) only
            • All of them

          • 4.
            Two heaters rated as \((P_1,V)\) and \((P_2,V)\) are connected in series across a dc source of \(V/2\) volt. The power consumed by the combination will be –

              • \((P_1+P_2)\)
              • \(\dfrac{P_1+P_2}{2}\)
              • \(\dfrac{P_1P_2}{2(P_1+P_2)}\)
              • \(\dfrac{P_1P_2}{4(P_1+P_2)}\)

            • 5.
              Write any two features of nuclear forces.


                • 6.
                  Draw a circuit diagram of a full-wave rectifier using p-n junction diodes. Explain its working and show the input-output waveforms.

                    CBSE CLASS XII Previous Year Papers

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