Inertial Current: Electron Movement & Current Generation

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the concept of inertial current in conductors, specifically addressing the movement of electrons and their contribution to current generation. It is established that electrons in a conductor are loosely bound, but their inertia contributes negligibly to current flow, with a typical electron mass being approximately 1/4000 of the conductor's mass. The net velocity of electrons under high current conditions is around 1 mm/s, resulting in a kinetic energy of only 0.1 nJ for 1 kg of cable. The discussion concludes that the inductance of the cable plays a significantly more critical role in current generation than the inertia of electrons.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic electrical concepts, including current and voltage.
  • Familiarity with electron behavior in conductive materials.
  • Knowledge of inductance and its impact on electrical circuits.
  • Basic principles of kinetic energy and its calculations.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of inductance in electrical circuits.
  • Explore the relationship between electron mobility and conductivity in materials.
  • Study the kinetic energy calculations for charged particles in conductors.
  • Investigate the effects of current density on electron movement in conductors.
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, electrical engineers, and anyone interested in the fundamental principles of electron movement and current generation in conductive materials.

Altair Tans
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Are the electrons of a conductor so loosely bound that just moving a current might give rise to a tiny bit of current owing to electron's inertia??
 
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Completely negligible. Electrons make up ~1/4000 of the mass of typical conductors, and if you have a high current in them they might have something like 1 mm/s net velocity. That gives 1 kg of cable a kinetic energy of 0.1 nJ, or 10-10 J. Typically even less because not all electrons contribute to current flow. The inductance of the cable will be much more important.
 

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