'

Drift velocity in a current-carrying metallic ohmic conductor

Description

The drift velocity is the average velocity that a particle, such as an electron, attains due to an electric field.

In terms of the basic properties of the right-cylindrical current-carrying metallic ohmic conductor, where the charge-carriers are electrons, the drift velocity can be calculated as shown here.

Related formulas

Variables

vdriftdrift velocity of the electrons (m*s-1)
mmolecular mass of the metal (kg)
σelectric conductivity of the medium at the temperature considered (S/m)
ΔVvoltage applied across the conductor (V)
ρdensity of the conductor (kg*m-3)
eelementary charge (C)
fnumber of free electrons per atom (dimensionless)
llength of the conducto (m)