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Chapter 18: Q6Q (page 755)
Why don’t all mobile electrons in a metal have exactly the same speed?
All mobile electrons in a wire don't have the exact same speed because the rate of collision is different for different electrons. The average speed remains constant.
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When a single thick-filament bulb of a particular kind and two batteries are connected in series, 18 electrons pass through the bulb every second. When two batteries in series are connected to a single thin-filament bulb, with a filament made of the same material and length as the thick-filament bulb but a smaller cross-section, only 18 electrons pass through the bulb every second. (a) In the circuit shown in Figure 18.109, how many electrons per second flow through the thin-filament bulb? (b) What approximations or simplifying assumptions did you make? (c) Show approximately the surface charge on a diagram of the circuit.
In a table like the one shown, write an inequality comparing each quantity in the steady state for a narrow resistor and thick connecting wires, which are made of the same material as the resistor.
Electron current in resistor | <,=, or > | Electron current in Thick Wires |
nR | nw | |
AR | Aw | |
uR | uw | |
ER | Ew | |
vR | vw |
What is the difference between emf and electric potential difference?
What is the most important general difference between a system in steady state and a system in equilibrium?
In the circuit shown in Figure 18.91, all of the wire is made of Nichrome, but one segment has a much smaller cross-sectional area. On a copy of this diagram, using the same scale for magnitude that you used in the previous question for Figure 18.90, show the steady-state electric field at the locations indicated, including in the thinner segment. Before attempting to answer these questions, draw a copy of this diagram. All of the locations indicated by letters are inside the wire.
(a)On your diagram, show the electric field at the locations indicated, paying attention to relative magnitude. Use the same scale for magnitude as you did in the previous question.
(b)Carefully draw pluses and minuses on your diagram to show the approximate surface charge distribution that produces the electric field you drew. Make your drawing show clearly the differences between regions of high surface charge density and regions of low surface-charge density. Use your diagram to determine which of the following statements about this circuit are true.
(1) There is a large gradient of surface charge on the wire between locations Cand E. (2) The electron current is the same at every location in this circuit.
(3) Fewer electrons per second pass location Ethan location C.
(4) The magnitude of the electric field at location Gis smaller in this circuit than it
was in the previous circuit (Figure 18.90).
(5) The magnitude of the electric field is the same at every location in this circuit.
(6) The magnitude of the electric field at location D is larger than the magnitude of the electric field at location G.
(7) There is no surface charge at all on the wire near location G.
(8) The electron current in this circuit is less than the electron current in the previous circuit (Figure 18.90).
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