# The drift speed of the electrons in a wire depends strongly on which of the following factors? ...

## Question:

The drift speed of the electrons in a wire depends strongly on which of the following factors?

a. the cross-sectional are of the wire

b. the mass of the wire

c. the temperature of the wire

d. the internal electron field in the wire

## Flow of Electrons:

The electrons are elementary particles in an atom which participates in electrical conduction. The flow of electrons determines the flow of current and is known as electronic current. However the flow of conventional current is flowing opposite to the direction of electrons.

The mathematical expression for drift velocity is given as,

{eq}V_d = \dfrac{I}{n\;Q\;A} {/eq}

The variables used are,

{eq}V_d \rightarrow \textrm{drift velocity of the electrons}\\ I\rightarrow \textrm{magnitude of current}\\ n \rightarrow \textrm{number of electrons}\\ Q \rightarrow \textrm{charge of electron}\\ A \rightarrow \textrm{area of cross section of wire} {/eq}

Therefore from the given options the drift current is dependent on the area of cross-section of the wire used.