The relationship between current, drift velocity, and thermal velocity in a copper resistor at room temperature is clearly defined. The drift velocity (v_d) is directly proportional to the current (I), as expressed by the formula I = v_n q A, where v_n is the drift velocity, q is the charge of the electrons, and A is the cross-sectional area. The thermal velocity (v_th) of conduction electrons is derived from thermal energy, calculated as v_th = sqrt(3kT/m), where k is the Boltzmann constant, T is the temperature, and m is the mass of the electron. At room temperature, the thermal velocity is approximately 10^5 m/s, while the current remains relatively unaffected by temperature changes.
PREREQUISITESPhysicists, electrical engineers, and students studying solid-state physics or materials science who are interested in the behavior of conduction electrons in resistors.