Physics

Kevin Mehall

Currents, Resistance

8.02 Lecture 9

drift velocity = v_d = \frac{eE}{m_e} \tau

\tau = time between collisions (due to thermal motion)

n = number of free electrons per cubic meter

about .5 cm/hr in copper at 10V

I = v_d A n e = \frac{e^2 n \tau}{m_e} A E

Conductivity = \sigma = \frac{e^2 n \tau}{m_e}

\sigma_{Cu} \approx 10^8

\sigma_{glass} \approx 10^-12

strong function of temperature -> hotter = higher resistance

V = \frac{l}{\sigma A}I

Resistivity = \rho = \frac1{\sigma}

Resistance = R = \frac{l}{\sigma A} = \frac{l \rho}{A}

V = IR

Ohm's law doesn't hold when current causes temperature change (thus changing resistance)

Adding ions to air or water increases its conductivity

Shoes have a resistance of about 4 billion ohms, but is still too high to prevent discharge of static electricity (high voltage, low charge).

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