Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A copper wire is mm across and carries A. Copper has free electrons in each cubic metre. Find the drift speed of the electrons, and the time one electron needs to drift m along the wire.
A current is , and electrons cross a section, with C. The drift velocity is and the mobility is . The current is , so . The current density is .
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Plan. Find the area, then the drift speed, then the time.
Step 1. The area. .
Step 2. The drift speed. . The bottom is . So , that is mm/s.
Step 3. The time. , that is hours.
Answer: mm/s, and hours.
Check. The speed is a fraction of a millimetre each second, as in a thick wire at a modest current.
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