I was told that Ohm's Law of resistance is wrong?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the validity of Ohm's Law and its relationship to resistivity, current, and electric fields, as well as the implications of quantum mechanics on these concepts. Participants explore the Drude model, Boltzmann transport equation, and Kubo model in the context of solid-state physics and transport phenomena.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the assertion that Ohm's Law is incorrect, citing that resistivity is influenced by factors such as current and electric field.
  • There is a suggestion that the Drude model serves as a derivation of Ohm's Law, but it is also characterized as an oversimplification of conduction electrons.
  • Some participants express concern that a second-year student may struggle with advanced topics like transport phenomena and the Boltzmann equation.
  • Others argue that understanding the Drude model does not necessarily require knowledge of the Boltzmann transport equation, though deeper understanding of the limitations of the Drude model may require more advanced quantum mechanics.
  • There is mention of the Kubo model as a more complex approach to transport phenomena, with some participants noting its difficulty and the classical nature of the Boltzmann equation.
  • One participant references the relationship between the Boltzmann equation and the second principle in Clausius formulation, as well as the classical theory of linear responses developed by Kubo.
  • Another participant raises a question about the validity of using the Boltzmann equation in solid-state physics, indicating ongoing exploration of the topic.
  • There are references to specific texts, such as Ashcroft and Mermin, and discussions about the Kondo effect in relation to the Kubo formulation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the applicability and correctness of Ohm's Law, the Drude model, and the Boltzmann equation. There is no consensus on the validity of these concepts or their interrelations, indicating an unresolved discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the understanding of these topics may depend on the educational background of the individuals involved, with references to the timing of solid-state physics education in different countries.

stunner5000pt
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Is that true?

because like my prof said that the resistivity of an object according to ohms law has nothing to do with certain factors when in reality it does such as current and electric field (i think)

What is this field of QM called? Is it Quantum Electrodynamics?

Can you suggest textbooks or books that would be a good read ?

Note : I'm only in the second year of university - but i'd like to start this sometime!
 
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stunner5000pt said:
Is that true?

because like my prof said that the resistivity of an object according to ohms law has nothing to do with certain factors when in reality it does such as current and electric field (i think)

What is this field of QM called? Is it Quantum Electrodynamics?

Can you suggest textbooks or books that would be a good read ?

Note : I'm only in the second year of university - but i'd like to start this sometime!

Read this thread...

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=51204

Zz.
 
So then the correction for Ohm's law is given by Drude's Law??
 
stunner5000pt said:
So then the correction for Ohm's law is given by Drude's Law??

No, the Drude model is the derivation of Ohm's law... But the Drude model is an over-simplication of the description of conduction electron, where these electron are thought to be "free" electron gas.

You may want to consider reading a solid state physics text if you are that keen on knowing this. I didn't recommend this before because you're only ... what... in your 2nd year?

Zz.
 
In the second year he should have serious trouble looking into transport phenomena in solids.As this chapter of solid state physics deals with Boltzmann equation applied to movement of free (electric) charge carries in a crystal,he should be knowing many things,like non-equilibrium statistical physics (kinetic/Boltzmann's equation approach) and fundamentals of solid state physics...I trhink that's too much to ask to a second year student.In my country,solid state is taught in the 3rd year.In parallel with QM and SP.
 
dextercioby said:
In the second year he should have serious trouble looking into transport phenomena in solids.As this chapter of solid state physics deals with Boltzmann equation applied to movement of free (electric) charge carries in a crystal,he should be knowing many things,like non-equilibrium statistical physics (kinetic/Boltzmann's equation approach) and fundamentals of solid state physics...I trhink that's too much to ask to a second year student.In my country,solid state is taught in the 3rd year.In parallel with QM and SP.

I don't think one needs to get into the Boltzmann transport equation to understand the Drude model. That is usually the first thing one sees in the very first chapter of, let's say, Ashcroft and Mermin text. I'm not saying he can understand even the Drude model with just a 2nd year education.

However, to understand why even the Drude model itself isn't entirely correct would certainly require understanding the Boltzmann equation and more QM than one has at that level. Interestingly enough, the Boltzmann transport equation itself is highly classical (or maybe even just semi-classical). One needs to go to the Kubo model to get to the QM version of the transport problem. This is fine and dandy, except that the Kubo model is a pain-in-the-ass to solve. This is why the Boltzmann equation is still what we fall back on to very often.

Zz.
 
ZapperZ said:
I don't think one needs to get into the Boltzmann transport equation to understand the Drude model.
It's pretty intuitive,yes,you're right.

ZapperZ said:
That is usually the first thing one sees in the very first chapter of, let's say, Ashcroft and Mermin text. I'm not saying he can understand even the Drude model with just a 2nd year education.

Perhaps.Anyway,he should know better what he does know and what he doesn't.


ZapperZ said:
However, to understand why even the Drude model itself isn't entirely correct would certainly require understanding the Boltzmann equation and more QM than one has at that level. Interestingly enough, the Boltzmann transport equation itself is highly classical (or maybe even just semi-classical). One needs to go to the Kubo model to get to the QM version of the transport problem.

Let's not get into technical terms here.There's a huge distance from Drude to Kubo.


ZapperZ said:
This is fine and dandy, except that the Kubo model is a pain-in-the-ass to solve. This is why the Boltzmann equation is still what we fall back on to very often.
Zz.

Yes it's the Boltzmann's equation that gives you the 2nd principle in Clausius formulation,but it's the CLASICAL theory of linear responses developed by Kubo which justifies the linear thermodynamics of irreversible processes developed by Onsager in 1931.So far,i haven't seen any relevant application of the QM version of Kubo's theory,or maybe i haven't read enough on the subject.That should be it...
:-p
 
I got another question on the validity of using Boltzmann'e equation wrt to solid-state physics...I'll post in a separate thread.
 
dextercioby said:
Yes it's the Boltzmann's equation that gives you the 2nd principle in Clausius formulation,but it's the CLASICAL theory of linear responses developed by Kubo which justifies the linear thermodynamics of irreversible processes developed by Onsager in 1931.So far,i haven't seen any relevant application of the QM version of Kubo's theory,or maybe i haven't read enough on the subject.That should be it...
:-p

It has been a while since I dealt with this, and someone else (Dr. Transport?) can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Mahan dealt with the Kubo model in his Many-Particle Physics text. And unless I am mistaken, the Kondo effect is one of the phenomena that can be explained starting with the Kubo formulation. The spin-flip between the conducting electron and the magnetic background cannot be included using Boltzmann transport equation.

Zz.
 

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