Define relaxation time of electrons in a conductor explain how it varies with increase in temperature of a conductor state the relation between resistivity and relaxation time
Answers
Answer:
Relaxation time is the time interval between two successive collisions of electrons in a conductor.
The resistivity of conductors increases with rise in temperature. As the temperature of the conductor increases, the average speed of the electrons acting as the current carriers increases. This in result increases the number of collisions and the average time of collisions decreases with temperature.
Answer:
When current is flowing, the relaxation time is the period of time between two subsequent electron collisions in a conductor. I = current, and n = number of free electrons and area of conductor is a.
Explanation:
The time elapsed between two subsequent electron collisions in a conductor when current is flowing through it is known as the relaxation time. The average amount of time between two subsequent collisions is known as the relaxation period of free electrons wandering in a conductor. Let's say there is a conductor with a cross-sectional area of "A" and an electron density of "n." The Relaxation time of free electrons in metals is the interval between two subsequent electron collisions in a conductor. The relaxation time of free electrons wandering in a conductor is the average amount of time between two successive collisions. In a material with a current flowing through it, relaxation time is the interval between two successive collisions and drift velocity is the average velocity attained by particles.
Relation between resistivity and relaxation time:
Electrical resistivity is inversely proportional to relaxation time.
Thus, the relaxation time (τ, tau) is the reciprocal of the proportionality constant, which has time units.