Question

The electron drift arises due to the force experienced by electrons in the electric field inside the conductor. But force should cause acceleration. Why then do the electrons acquire a steady average drift speed?

Answer 1

Each 'free' electron does accelerate, increasing its drift speed until it collides with a positive ion of the metal.

◆It loses its drift speed after collision but starts to accelerate and increases its drift speed again only to suffer a collision again and so on. On the average therefore, electrons acquire only a drift speed.