ELECTRONS

[Sahib]

So with a piece of 12 guage copper and a 60hz current electrons only move about a millimeter back and forth each cycle? So those electrons just sway back and fourth so to speak?


I know, hard to grasp. I was taught that electrons moved close to the speed of lightBut that's why I'm here, Im learning!:thumbsup:

The restriction on the flow velocity of electrons apply when the electrons are in a solid; but if the electrons are in free space, no restriction subject to maximum velocity of light.

 

[Besoeker]

The restriction on the flow velocity of electrons apply when the electrons are in a solid

From the OP:

How fast do electrons flow in a wire

Wire is normally made of a solid material.........

 

[mbrooke]

The function of the electron drift is affected by amperage and cross sectional area, all the other values are constants if using copper wire. For what its worth this is really a useless calculation unless your an engineering student and you want to pass the electricity and magnetism final in your engineering physics class. I can't think of any time I actually needed to use it.

Bob

Its nice to know none the less I love learning how things work. Ditto, even though I have done countless EE equations, I have yet to calculate the electron drift velocities. Is there any EE field that does use it?

 

[fmtjfw]

Its nice to know none the less I love learning how things work. Ditto, even though I have done countless EE equations, I have yet to calculate the electron drift velocities. Is there any EE field that does use it?

High-power electronics and ultrafast photonics according to this paper:

Electron drift velocity in high electric fields in zincblende, wurtzite and rocksalt GaN

http://iopscience.iop.org/1742-6596/193/1/012031/pdf/1742-6596_193_1_012031.pdf