BRAINCAKECurrent and Drift Velocity
Electrons are moving around randomly in the metallic lattice at very high speed. When a potential difference is applied they all the free electrons drift slowly towards the negative terminal at once.
A formula for electric current in a metal is:
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Key terms in this lesson
- velocity
- The rate of change of displacement of an object; speed in a given direction.
- density
- The mass per unit volume of a substance.
- electric current
- The rate of flow of electric charge.
- potential difference
- The work done, or energy transferred, per unit charge as charge moves between two points in a circuit.
More in Electricity
- Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment
- The Flow of Charge in Metals and Electrolytes
- Kirchoff's First Law and Conservation of Charge
- Conductors and Semi-Conductors
- Potential Difference
- Electromotive Force
- The Electron Gun
- Resistance
All 30 lessons in Electricity · All OCR AS-level Physics topics