Unit -2
Topic 1 : Drude Model - Classical theory of
Electrical Conduction, and Thermal Conduction
in Metals
OBJECTIVES
Learn the Electrical conduction in metal - Classical theory
Knowledge on the different electrical parameters used in
conduction
Drude model of electrical conduction
In 1900, only 3 years after the discovery of the electron, Drude suggested a
simplemodel to explain observed properties (electrical conductivity) of metals
Electrons in a solid are considered to behave like a classical ideal gas
Independent electron approximation:
Eelctrons do not inteact with each other - no coulombic interaction
Free electron approximation :
Positive charge is located on immobile ion cores.
Electrons can collide with the ion cores and instantaneously change
their velocity
Electrons reach thermal equilibrium with the lattice through the collisions with
the ions.
Drude model of electrical conduction
Classical Approach:
copper as example :
The copper atom has a single valence electron in its 4s subshell, and this electronis
loosely bound.
The solid metal consists of positive ion cores, Cu+, at regular sites,
in the face-centered cubic (FCC) crystal structure.
The valence electrons detach themselves from the parent atom and wander around
freely in the solid, forming a kind of electron cloud or gas.
These mobile electrons are free to respond to an applied field, creating a current
density
The valence electrons in the electron gas are therefore .
Drude model of electrical conduction
Figure shows the net flow of electrons in a conductor section of
cross-sectional area A in the presence of an applied field Ex.
• Notice that the direction of electron motion is opposite to that of
the electric field Ex and of conventional current, because the
electrons experience a Coulombic force eEx in the x direction,
due to their negative charge.
Drude model of electrical conduction
Total charge crossing the region x :
Q = enA x
where
e - charge of the electron
n - conduction electron density
A - cross-sectional area
Drude model of electrical conduction
When an electric field (E) is applied, the equation of motion is
applying Netwon's II law and equating to coulombic force
dv
m e eE
dt
Solution:
eEt
v(t )
me
average the time for a collision-free drift is , and average drift velocity
eE
vd
me
Drude model of electrical conduction
Current:
Q neA x x = vd t
I (distance = speed x time)
t t
neAv d t vd - drift velocity of electrons
t
Drude model of electrical conduction
Current: x = vd t
(distance = speed x time)
Q neA x
I
t t vd - drift velocity of electrons
neAv d t
t
eE
Substituting drift velocity, vd
me
eE ne 2 A E
I neAv d neA
me me
Drude model of electrical conduction
I ne 2 Current density
J E
A me
J E Ohm's Law
ne 2
Conductivity
me
Drude model of electrical conduction
Why Drift velocity is average velocity ?
The average velocity of the electrons in the x direction at time t is denoted vdx(t)
is called the drift velocity
1
vdx v x1 v x 2 v x 3 ...... v xN
N
Here, vxi is the x direction velocity of the ith electron, and N is the number of
conduction electrons in the metal
Drude model of electrical conduction
Calculation of Drift Velocity
(a) A conduction electron in the electron gas moves (b) In the presence of an applied field, Ex, there is a
about randomly in a metal (with a mean speed u) net drift along the x-direction. This net drift along
being frequently and randomly scattered by by the force of the field is superimposed on the random
thermal vibrations of the atoms. In the absence of an motion of the electron. After many scattering events
applied field there is no net drift in any direction the electron has been displaced by a net distance,
Δx, from its initial position toward the positive
terminal
Drude model of electrical conduction
Drude model of electrical conduction
eE
Therefore, the drift velocity is vd
me
The constant of proportionality eτ∕me is called drift mobility
e
me
vd E
, which is often called the relaxation time, is directly related to the microscopic
processes that cause the scattering of the electrons in the metal; that is, lattice vibration,
crystal imperfections, and impurities
Drude model of electrical conduction
Problems
ELECTRON DRIFT MOBILITY IN METALS
Calculate the drift mobility and the mean scattering time of conduction electrons in
copper at room temperature, given that the conductivity of copper is 5.9 × 105 Ω−1 cm−1.
The density of copper is 8.96 g cm−3 and its atomic mass is 63.5 g mol−1. If the mean
speed of the conduction electrons in Cu is roughly 1.6 × 106 m s−1, what is the mean free
path between collisions?
Problems
Problems
DRIFT VELOCITY AND MEAN SPEED
What is the applied electric field that will impose a drift velocity equal to 0.1 percent of the
mean speed u ( 106 m s−1) of conduction electrons in copper? What is the corresponding
current density and current through a Cu wire of diameter 1 mm?
Problems
solution:
This means a current of 1.1 × 107 A through a 1 mm diameter wire! It is clear from this example that
for all practical purposes, even under the highest working currents and voltages, the drift velocity is
much smaller than the mean speed of the electrons. Consequently, when an electric field is applied
to a conductor, for all practical purposes, the mean speed is unaffected.
Thermal Conductivity
When a metal is heated at one end, the amplitude
of atomic vibrations increases in that region.
This increase in vibrations raises the average
kinetic energy of the electrons.
Electrons gain energy from these energetic atomic
vibrations during collisions.
With enhanced random motion, the energetic
electrons move toward the colder regions.
They transfer the extra energy to the colder
regions by colliding with the atomic vibrations
there.
Hence, electrons serve as “energy carriers.”
Thermal Conductivity
Fourier’s law of thermal conduction
Consider the rate of heat flow, dQ∕dt, across a
thin section δx of the rod.
The rate of heat flow (Q) is proportional to
the temperature gradient δT∕δx
the cross-sectional area A
Thermal Conductivity
One can derive the expression for rate of heat flow by considering the
difference in the energy flow in the desired region (in figure x0)
=
Thermal Conductivity
By comparing these two equations,
Thermal conductivity,
n – density of electrons
Vx- average velocity in the x-direction
- mean time between the scattering (change of path)
Wiedemann–Franz– Lorenz law (Classical Treatment)
Wiedemann– Franz–Lorenz law
Wiedemann–Franz– Lorenz law (Classical Treatment)
Wiedemann– Franz–Lorenz law
Lorentz number, L = = 1.1 × 10−8 W Ω K−2
Wiedemann–Franz– Lorenz law (Quantum
Treatment)
Lorentz number (experimental)
Thermal conductivity versus electrical conductivity for various metals (elements and alloys) at 20 ˚C.
The solid line represents the WFL law with L ≈ 2.44 × 108 W Ω K-2.
