An aqueous solution contained in a narrow glass tube conducts electricity by means of…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Current Electricity · Current Electricity
Problem
An aqueous solution contained in a narrow glass tube conducts electricity by means of two types of charge carriers:
• Sodium ions, Na+, each with charge +e
• Electrons, e−, each with charge −e
During a particular 1.00 s interval, measurements show the following charge transport through a fixed cross-section of the tube:
• 3.12×1018 sodium ions move to the right.
• 2.50×1018 electrons move to the left.
Take e=1.60×10−19C.
(a) Calculate the electric current contributed by the sodium ions. State both magnitude and direction with respect to the right-hand direction defined above.
(b) Calculate the electric current contributed by the electrons. State both magnitude and direction.
(c) Determine the net conventional current through the cross-section for this 1.00 s interval. Give the magnitude and specify whether the net current is to the right or to the left.
(d) Explain, using charge signs, why the electron motion you calculated in part (b) leads to a conventional current in the direction you stated.