Electron Current Formula:
From: | To: |
Electron current refers to the flow of electrons through a conductor, which constitutes electric current. It is calculated based on electron density, elementary charge, cross-sectional area, and drift velocity of electrons.
The calculator uses the electron current formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the electric current resulting from the flow of electrons through a conductor with given parameters.
Details: Calculating electron current is essential for understanding electrical conductivity, designing electronic circuits, and analyzing semiconductor behavior in various applications.
Tips: Enter electron density in electrons/m³, elementary charge in coulombs (default is 1.6e-19 C), cross-sectional area in m², and drift velocity in m/s. All values must be positive.
Q1: What is electron density?
A: Electron density refers to the number of free electrons per unit volume in a conductor, typically measured in electrons per cubic meter.
Q2: Why is elementary charge important?
A: Elementary charge (e) is the fundamental electric charge carried by a single electron, approximately 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ coulombs.
Q3: What affects drift velocity?
A: Drift velocity is influenced by electric field strength, material properties, and temperature. It represents the average velocity of electrons moving under an electric field.
Q4: How does cross-sectional area affect current?
A: Larger cross-sectional areas allow more electrons to flow simultaneously, resulting in higher current for the same electron density and drift velocity.
Q5: What are typical values for these parameters?
A: Electron density varies by material (~10²⁸-10²⁹/m³ for metals), drift velocity is typically slow (~mm/s), and elementary charge is constant at 1.6e-19 C.