Question

The Nichrome wire is replaced by a wire of the same length and diameter, and same mobile electron density but with electron mobility 4 times as large as that of Nichrome. Now what is the electric field inside the wire?

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

Usually, the electron drift velocity in a material is directly proportional to the electric field, which means that the electron mobility is a constant (independent of electric field).

μ × E = Vd

Where,

D = electric field

Vd = drift velocity

μ = electron mobility

μ2 = μ × 4

μ/Vd1 = 4 × μ/Vd2

Vd2 = 4 × Vd1

The electric field is the same but drift velocity increases.

Answer 2

Answer:

The electric field inside the wire will remain the same or constant, while the drift velocity will by a factor of four.

Explanation:

Electron mobility, μ = $\frac{v_d}{E}$

where

$v_d$ = Drift velocity

E = Electric field

Given that the electric field strength = 1.48 V/m,

Therefore since the electric potential depends on the length of the wire and the attached potential difference, then when the electron mobility is increased 4 times the Electric field E will be the same but the drift velocity will increase four times. That is

4·μ = $\frac{4*v_d}{E}$