PHYS 212 Chapter 30: Chapter 30
Document Summary
Connecting two parallel plates with a wire will discharge them rapidly, making them neutral the wire carries a current, so it will get hot and also deflect a compass needle. Electrons in a metal do have no net movement unless acted on by an electric field. When acted on by an electric field, particles continue to move randomly but have a net motion at the drift speed. Based on a normal drift speed, an electron would take about half an hour to travel 20 cm. However, capacitors discharge almost instantly this occurs because wire, like a hose full of water, already contains electrons. So putting electrons in one end results in almost instantaneous release of electrons at the other end. Electrons lose kinetic energy to heat energy, and so some force must continue pushing them (surprise, it"s the electric field) Electron currents are not equilibrium, so the conductor has an internal electric field.
