Electric Field of Single-Battery Circuit with Thin/Thick Wires

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the electric field and electron current in a circuit with a single battery and wires of varying cross-sectional areas. The user attempts to apply relevant equations but struggles with the relationship between the electric fields in thick and thin wires. They derive a relationship showing that the electric field in the thick wire is 0.046 times that of the thin wire. Ultimately, they calculate the electric field in the thin wire to be 14.8 V/M and the electron current at that location to be approximately 4.5E19 electrons per second. The user expresses frustration over the lack of resources in their physics book, which complicates their understanding of the topic.
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Homework Statement



19-072-ProblemThinSection.jpg


The circuit shown above consists of a single battery, whose emf is 1.4 V, and three wires made of the same material, but having different cross-sectional areas. Each thick wire has cross-sectional area 1.4e-6 m2, and is 21 cm long. The thin wire has cross-sectional area 6.4e-8 m2, and is 7.5 cm long. In this metal, the electron mobility is 6e-4 (m/s)/(V/m), and there are 8e+28 mobile electrons/m3.

Use the appropriate equation(s), plus the equation relating electron current to electric field, to solve for the factor that goes in the blank below:
EF = ? * EDUse the appropriate equation(s) to calculate the magnitude of ED
ED = ?Use the appropriate equation(s) to calculate the electron current at location D in the steady state

Homework Equations


?

The Attempt at a Solution


Already tried it, and I can't do it. E = emf/L doesn't work here.

I've looked everywhere to try and find equations that can help me solve it, or at least relate the thin and thick wire. My physics book seems to skip this whole section (I'm using a different physics book than my class, which kind of sux for me, but I didn't want to buy another one).
 
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I solved it all on my own. I'll post the solution here so people will know how to do it if they come across it.

i = naME
i = electron current
n = electron density
a = area
M = electron mobility
E = electric field
For the thin and thick wire, the electron current for both of them is constant. So you can put the two together.
nA(thick)ME(thick) = nA(thin)ME(thin)
A(thick)E(thick) = A(thin)E(thin), n and M are constants, too.
E(thick) = [A(thin)/A(thick)]E(thin)
A(thin) = 6.4E-8 m^2
A(thick) = 1.4E-6 m^2
E(thick) = 0.046E(thin)

You have the equation:
0 = 1.4 - EF*0.21 - ED*0.075 - EF*0.21 [Found by applying the Loop Rule]
E(thick) = 0.046E(thin).
So, EF = E(thick) and ED = E(thin) from the diagram. Plug it in.
0 = 1.4 - 2(0.21)(0.046)E(thin)
E(thin) = 14.8 V/M

You have i=naME to find i. So plug that in.
M = 6E-4
n = 8E28
A(thin) = 6.4E-8
E = 14.8
i = (6E-4)(8E28)(6.4E-8)(14.8) = 4.5E19 electrons / second
 
0 = 1.4 - 2(0.21)(0.046)E(thin)
E(thin) = 14.8 V/M

If you solve that you don't get 14.8, your def missing something here!
 
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