Practice question
Question
In a conductor, if the number of free electrons per unit volume doubles while the electric field and
relaxation time remain constant, what happens to the current density?
Explanation
**Current and drift relation** I = n e A v_d shows current proportional to drift velocity and area. For A=6×10⁻⁷ m², I=1.8 A, n=8.5×10²⁸ m⁻³, v_d =1.8/(8.5×10²⁸×1.6×10⁻¹⁹×6×10⁻⁷)=2.2×10⁻⁴ m/s, illustrating small drift speed even for ampere currents. Current density j = n e v_d , where v_d = e E tau / m . If n doubles and E , tau , and m remain constant, v_d is unchanged, so j' = 2n e v_d = 2j . Thus, current density doubles. Applying I = n e A v_d, R = ρ l/A, R_t = R₀[1+αΔT], Kirchhoff's ΣI=0, ΣV=0, R_eq series/parallel, V = ε - I
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