Calculating Current Density and Current in a Gold Wire

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating current density and current in a gold wire, specifically with an electron drift speed of 3.0 x 10^-4 m/s and a wire diameter of 0.50 mm. The relevant equations provided are I = nqv_dA for current and J = I/A for current density, where J is current density, n is the number of free charge carriers, q is the charge of an electron, v_d is drift velocity, and A is the cross-sectional area. Participants emphasize the importance of understanding these equations rather than merely plugging in numbers.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic electrical concepts, including current and current density.
  • Familiarity with the equation I = nqv_dA.
  • Knowledge of how to calculate cross-sectional area from diameter.
  • Awareness of the properties of gold as a conductor, including its electron density.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the electron density (n) for gold and its significance in calculations.
  • Learn how to calculate the cross-sectional area of a wire from its diameter.
  • Study the relationship between drift velocity and current density in conductive materials.
  • Explore the implications of charge carrier density on electrical conductivity in metals.
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Students in physics or electrical engineering, educators teaching electrical concepts, and anyone involved in practical applications of electrical conductivity in materials.

kyang002
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The electron drift speed in a gold wire is 3.0 * 10^-4.

1. What is the current density in the wire?

2. What is the current if the wire diameter is 0.50 mm?

I am unsure of which equation to use.
Q = I delta t ??

Can someone help me out?
 
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kyang002 said:
The electron drift speed in a gold wire is 3.0 * 10^-4.

1. What is the current density in the wire?

2. What is the current if the wire diameter is 0.50 mm?

I am unsure of which equation to use.
Q = I delta t ??

Can someone help me out?[/QUOTE]

Look in your book,, there should be some equations relating current to drift velocity and current density.
 
Q = I delta t is the equation that I found. It doesn't make sense to me. Obviously I already looked in the book and cannot figure it out, that is why I am posting on this forum. If you can please leave more helpful info on how to solve the problem instead of telling me to look in the book, that would be much better.
 
Don't they give you the "n" for gold??You know what "n" stands for,right??U had to compute it at one of the other problems...

Daniel.
 
kyang002 said:
Q = I delta t is the equation that I found. It doesn't make sense to me. Obviously I already looked in the book and cannot figure it out, that is why I am posting on this forum. If you can please leave more helpful info on how to solve the problem instead of telling me to look in the book, that would be much better.

I highly doubt that these equations are not given in your book, and it doesn't do you much good to just plug in numbers without knowing what these equations mean, but I'll list them here just in case there was a disaster at the publishing company, and they left these out. You should try to find these in your book later, and see where they come from :smile: .

I \ = \ nqv_dA

J \ = \ \frac{I}{A} \ = \ nqv_d

where J is current density, n is number of free moving charge particles per unit volume, v_d is drift velocity, and A is cross sectional area.
 
I never figured it out because I was stuck on how to figure out n and q.
 

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