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Drift velocity

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The drift velocity is the average velocity that a particle, such as an electron, attains in a material due to an electric field. It can also be referred to as axial drift velocity. In general, an electron will propagate randomly in a conductor at the Fermi velocity. An applied electric field will give this random motion a small net flow velocity in one direction.

Contents

In a semiconductor, the two main carrier scattering mechanisms are ionized impurity scattering and lattice scattering.

Because current is proportional to drift velocity, which in a resistive material is, in turn, proportional to the magnitude of an external electric field, Ohm's law can be explained in terms of drift velocity.

The most elementary expression of Ohm's law is:

u = μ E ,

where u is the drift velocity, μ is the electron mobility (with units m2/(V⋅s)) of the material and E is the electric field (with units V/m).

Experimental measure

The formula for evaluating the drift velocity of charge carriers in a material of constant cross-sectional area is given by:

u = j n q ,

where u is the drift velocity of electrons, j is the current density flowing through the material, n is the charge-carrier number density, and q is the charge on the charge-carrier.

In terms of the basic properties of the right-cylindrical current-carrying metallic ohmic conductor, where the charge-carriers are electrons, this expression can be rewritten as:

u = m σ Δ V ρ e f ℓ ,

where

  • u is again the drift velocity of the electrons, in m⋅s−1
  • m is the molecular mass of the metal, in kg
  • ΔV is the voltage applied across the conductor, in V
  • ρ is the density (mass per unit volume) of the conductor, in kg⋅m−3
  • e is the elementary charge, in C
  • f is the number of free electrons per atom
  • ℓ is the length of the conductor, in m
  • σ is the electric conductivity of the medium at the temperature considered, in S/m.

    • Numerical example

    Electricity is most commonly conducted in a copper wire. Copper has a density of 7000894000000000000♠8.94 g/cm3, and an atomic weight of 6998635460000000000♠63.546 g/mol, so there are 7005140685500000000♠140685.5 mol/m3. In one mole of any element there are 7023602000000000000♠6.02×1023 atoms (Avogadro's constant). Therefore in 7000100000000000000♠1 m3 of copper there are about 7028850000000000000♠8.5×1028 atoms (7023602000000000000♠6.02×1023 × 7005140685500000000♠140685.5 mol/m3). Copper has one free electron per atom, so n is equal to 7028850000000000000♠8.5×1028 electrons per cubic metre.

    Assume a current I = 1 ampere, and a wire of 6997200000000000000♠2 mm diameter (radius = 6997100000000000000♠0.001 m). This wire has a cross sectional area of 6994314000000000000♠3.14×10−6 m2 (A = π × (6997100000000000000♠0.001 m)2). The charge of one electron is q = 3018840000000000000♠−1.6×10−19 C. The drift velocity therefore can be calculated:

    u = I n A q u = 1 C / s ( 8.5 × 10 28 m − 3 ) ( 3.14 × 10 − 6 m 2 ) ( 1.6 × 10 − 19 C ) u = 2.3 × 10 − 5 m / s

    Dimensional analysis:

    u = A electron m 3 ⋅ m 2 ⋅ C electron = C s 1 m ⋅ C = m s

    Therefore in this wire the electrons are flowing at the rate of 3004770000000000000♠−0.000023 m/s. At 60 Hz alternating current, this means that within half a cycle the electrons drift less than 0.2 μm. In other words, electrons flowing across the contact point in a switch will never actually leave the switch.

    By comparison, the Fermi flow velocity of these electrons (which, at room temperature, can be thought of as their approximate velocity in the absence of electric current) is around 7006157000000000000♠1570 km/s.

    References

    Drift velocity Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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