Physics A-Level
Random thermal motion versus drift motion
What Random thermal motion versus drift motion means in Physics A-Level, as defined for OCR.
Definition of Random thermal motion versus drift motion
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Reference: OCR
Carriers have much larger random thermal speeds, but these average to zero and do not contribute to the current, whereas the field gives each carrier a small average velocity along the conductor.
Topics that use Random thermal motion versus drift motion
- Mean drift velocity (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Conductors, semiconductors and insulators
- Elementary charge
- Number density of charge carriers
- Relationship between current and drift velocity
- Temperature dependence of conductivity
- Mean drift velocity
- Microscopic model of current
Using Random thermal motion versus drift motion in the exam
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