3. 13 The number density of free electrons in a copper conductor estimated in Example 3.1 is 8.5 × 1028 m–3. How long does an electron take to drift from one end of a wire 3.0 m long to its other end? The area of cross-section of the wire is 2.0 × 10–6 m2 and it is carrying a current of 3.0 A.


Number of density of free electrons in a copper conductor, n = 8.5 × 1028 m-3 

Length of the copper wire, l = 3.0 m

Area of cross-section of the wire, A = 2.0 × 10-6 m2

Current carried by the wire, I = 3.0 A, which is given by the relation, I = nAeVd

Where, e = Electric charge = 1.6 × 10-19 C

Vd=Drift velocity=Length of the wire (l)Time taken to cover l (t)
I=nAelt
t=nAelI
=3×8.5×1028×2×10-6×1.6×10-193.0
=2.7×104 s

Therefore, the time taken by an electron to drift from one end of the wire to the other is 2.7×104s