The average velocity gained by the electron in a conductor placed in an electric field is called

C. Drift Velocity

The average velocity gained by the electron in a conductor placed in an electric field is called:

C. Drift Velocity

Here’s why:

• Electrons in a conductor constantly move around due to their thermal energy.
• When an electric field is applied, these electrons experience a force that causes them to accelerate in the direction opposite the electric field.
• However, they also collide with ions (positively charged atoms) in the conductor, which disrupts their straight-line motion.

Drift velocity refers to the average velocity that electrons acquire due to the applied electric field, considering both the acceleration caused by the field and the collisions with ions. It’s a net effect that represents the overall movement of electrons in the conductor.

The other options are not as accurate in this context:

• A. Variable Velocity: While the electrons’ instantaneous velocity does vary due to collisions, drift velocity refers to the average of these variations.
• B. Phase Velocity: Phase velocity describes the propagation speed of a wave, not the average velocity of electrons in a conductor.
• D. Instantaneous Velocity: This refers to the electron’s velocity at a specific moment, which constantly changes due to collisions. Drift velocity considers the average of these instantaneous velocities.