Name: Overloading of Current
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 3 min 47 s
Description: An electric overload occurs when too much current passes through electric wires. The wires heat and can melt, with the risk of starting a fire. Watch this vi...

Question

Explain how electron flow causes electric current with Lorentz &ndash; Drude theory of electrons.

Accepted Answer

According to Drude and Lorentz theory of electrons,

Conductors like metals contain many free electrons while the positive ions are fixed in their position. The arrangement of the positive charges in the conductor is known as lattice.

In an open circuit in a conductor electrons move randomly, so net charge is zero.

From the figure given we see that, the number of electrons, crossing the cross-section from left to right is equal to that of electrons passing the cross-section from right to left. Hence, the net charge moving along a conductor through any cross-section is zero when the circuit is in open state.

When the circuit is closed, there will be an orderly motion of electrons, so there is a net charge crossing through any cross-section of the conductor thus causing an electric current to flow, due to which the bulb will glow in the circuit as there is energy flow from the battery to the bulb.

Explain how electron flow causes electric current with Lorentz – Drude theory of electrons.

Important Questions on Electric Current

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