In a laboratory experiment a student applies different uniform electric fields to a…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Current Electricity · Current Electricity
Problem
In a laboratory experiment a student applies different uniform electric fields to a metallic sample and notes the resulting drift velocities of the free electrons.
(i) Define drift velocity and mobility of charge carriers in a conductor.
(ii) Using suitable reasoning, distinguish clearly between drift velocity and mobility. Mention any one factor on which each quantity depends.
(iii) The student observes that when the applied electric field is doubled, the drift velocity also doubles, yet the mobility remains the same. Explain why this happens, referring to the defining relations of the two quantities.