Let us now examine the mechanism of conduction in metals, as all good Conductors are metals. We picture the interior of a conductor as a three dimensional lattice of atoms with free electrons moving about between the atoms and colliding frequently with them. As the effective radius of an atom is of the order of (10)⁻⁸ cm, while that of an electron is of the order of (10)⁻¹³ cm, we may neglect the collisions between electrons and atoms. The atoms vibrate about their equilibrium positions, and the electrons move, with a mean energy determined by the absolute temperature. Tn fact, the atoms have the usual thermal agitation of any solid, while the electrons collectively behave like a gas at the temperature of the conductor.

As long as no external Electric Field is applied to the conductor, the average field in the interior is zero, since there is as much positive charge as negative in any small volume. Therefore, there is on the whole no motion of free charges through the conductor. If now we apply a field of intensity E each charge experiences an acceleration of magnitude eE∕m, where m is the mass of the charge. This superposes on the random thermal motions of the charges a general drift, which constitutes the current. The drift velocity is small compared with the thermal velocities, so that the two motions may be treated as independent. The mean free time t_f between successive collisions of a free charge with some atom is thus determined by the structure of the conductor and the temperature, but not by E.

We may now calculate the mean drift velocity and hence the current. Between collisions the drift velocity is increased on the average by the amount (eE∕m)t_f. The effect of each collision, however, is to restore the random thermal distribution of velocities, that is, to reduce the drift velocity to zero. Therefore, the mean drift velocity v is given by

combining this with current density we get

(1)

Defining the electrical conductivity σ as the current density produced by a field of unit strength, we have

(2)

Under all ordinary conditions the conductivity is a characteristic of the conducting substance independent of j or E. It does, however, vary with the temperature. According to the kinetic theory of gases t_f is inversely proportional to the square root of the absolute temperature. Experimentally it is found, however, that σ is more nearly proportional to the inverse first power of the absolute temperature.

The most satisfactory check on the general validity of the electron theory of conduction is obtained by considering thermal conduction as well as electrical. The mean energy of both the electrons and the atoms in a body depends on the temperature, so that when a temperature gradient exists there is also an energy gradient. Energy is transferred from a region of higher temperature to one of lower by diffusion of the electrons. We may ascribe heat conduction almost entirely to this cause, since in dielectrics, where there are no free charges, there is very small conduction of heat. By an analysis similar to that used for electrical conductivity it may be shown that the thermal conductivity σ_h is given by

(3)

where k is a universal constant having the value 1.38 × 10⁻16 erg per degree, and T is the absolute temperature.

Taking the ratio of (3) to (2) we find

(4)

a relation known as the law of Wiedemann and Franz. It is found to be in good agreement with experiment, at least in the case of the best conductors, such as gold, silver and copper.

Returning now to (2), the resistivity ρ is defined as the reciprocal of the conductivity, so that, using (2)

(5)

Let us apply the last equation to a wire of length l, the composition and cross section being uniform throughout its length. Since E is then constant and directed along the wire, El is the electromotive force V and we may write

(6)

The quantity ρl∕A depends only on the absolute temperature under ordinary conditions, being in fact approximately proportional to it. If we denote ρl∕A by R, we have

(7)

which is Ohm’s law. R is called the resistance of the conductor and its reciprocal the conductance. In the practical system of units, where V is measured in volts and i in apmeres, R is measured in ohms. Very large resistances are sometimes measured in megohms, a megaohm being a million ohms.

Ohm’s law may be stated in general terms as follows: The ratio of the electromotive force between two points on a conductor to the current flowing between these points is a constant, at any given temperature, known as the resistance.

The passage of current through a conductor evidently is attended by an evolution of heat, since the moving charges lose their energy to the atoms at each collision. The heat generated per second in a conductor is easily calculated. The force on the moving charge contained in a length dl is (Anedl)E. Therefore, the work done on the charge in the length dl of the conductor in a time dt is

The work for the entire conductor is

so that the work done per second, called the power, is V i. This energy all appears in heat, as there is no storage of energy in the interior of the conductor. Denoting power by P,

(8)

In the practical system the unit is the joule per second or watt. As the joule is (10)⁷ ergs, the watt is (10)⁷ ergs per second. The number of calories developed per second is obtained by multiplying the power in watts by 0.238. The total resistance of a conductor of any length and cross section is calculated by means of the relation

The resistivity at a temperature not greatly different from 0⁰C is given by the formula

where ρ₀ is the resistivity at 0⁰C, t is the centrigrade temperature, and α is the temperature coefficient.

References

This entry is a derivative of the Public domain work [1]