Jor ta Physics 121 Handout Drift Velocity and Energy Dissipation in Wires with C

Question

Jor ta Physics 121 Handout Drift Velocity and Energy Dissipation in Wires with Current Ih a wire in a circuit, electrons are pushed through the wires by application of a potential difference through the wire e, by the creation of an electric field inside the wire). As the electrons drop through the electrical potential they pick up energy. This exercise explores some aspects of this process related to the energy delvered to the circuit. It might be useful to know that the charge on an electron is 1.602x 10C and its mass is 9.109x10- kg. 1. Image that a wire is connected across the terminals of a 10V battery. This will cause electrons to ow from the negative to the positive terminal. How much energy do you expect the electrons acquire when they travel through the wire? Express your answer in both eV and joules 2. The potential energy of the electrons should be converted to kinetic energy. Assuming this is so, how tast should the electrons be moving when they reach the end of the wire? Give your answer in m/s

Explanation / Answer

2) You calculated the potential energy. Let it be denoted by U.

Now, U is converted to KE.

So, KE = U

KE is given by:

KE = 1/2 x m x v^2

=> v = sqrt {(2 x KE)/m}

but KE = U

So,

v = sqrt {(2 x U)/m}

Simply plug in the value of U calculated and mass of electron m = 9.11 x 10^-31 kg.

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