Would electricity travel faster through a conductor at a temperature of 16 degrees F or 1600 degrees F?

Answer 1

To determine the average speed that electrons move through a conductor, you need to calculate the drift velocity of the electrons (see link below). The drift velocity is directly proportional to the mean free path of an electron in the metal, which itself is proportional to the conductivity. The conductivity of copper is about 4.9 times lower at 1600 ºF than at 16 ºF, meaning that the drift velocity is also 4.9 times lower at 1600 ºF. In other words, electrons take longer to travel through a wire at higher temperatures than at lower temperatures. This should come as no great surprise, since it is well known that the resistance of metals increases with temperature.

Answer 2

Faster isn't the right thing to think of, however, the conductor will conduct electricity BETTER at 16 degrees F rather than 1600 F. To fully understand the reason requires a long-winded answer... here goes.

Everything is made of atoms. Gases are atoms that are free to move in any direction. Liquids are atoms that are partially attached to neighboring atoms, still able to vibrate and move. Solids are rigidly attached to neighboring atoms, only able to vibrate next to other atoms.

Now, think of temperature as extra energy. When there is very little energy (at low temperature) the atoms in a solid vibrate relatively softly. As the temperature increases, more and more energy is put into the vibrations, and they become more violent. If enough heat energy is put into the solid, its temperature will rise until the vibrations become so violent that the rigid bonds that holds an atom to its neighbor are broken - it melts into a liquid! (this is why things melt!) Similarly, if you kept heating up the liquid, it would eventually turn into a gas (think of boiling water).

Why do you need to know that? Because you need to understand how atoms behave at different temperatures, and are now ready to understand how electricity plays a role.

Conducting electricity requires electrons to move through the solid quickly. There are a broad range of materials that conduct electricity better or worse. The best conductors are called just that, "conductors", while the worst conductors are called "insulators" meaning that they trap electrons rather than let them through. Conductors allow the electrons to go past unimpeded, whereas the atoms in the insulators get in the way.

Where do vibrations come in? When an electron hits an atom, it bounces off at a different angle, slowing the overall electron travel. The time between collisions with atoms is called the "collision time". If atoms are vibrating only a little, they are less likely to get in the electron's way, and the collision time is longer (it can travel farther undisturbed). If the atoms are vibrating violently, then they are much more likely to get in the electron's way, and the collision time decreases (it spends more and more time getting bounced around rather than moving the direction it's trying to go). When atoms get in the way, they decrease the conductivity of the material!

Therefore the conductor at 16 degrees F will conduct much better than the same conductor at 1600 degrees F because the atomic vibrations will be lessened at lower temperatures. There will be less scattering due to collisions between the electron and the atoms in the solid.

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

They move at the same speed. What changes with the temperature is the electrical capacity of the conductor. The colder the wire, the more electricity it can carry before it overheats. Superconductors, which are very cold, do not conduct any faster, but can conduct a lot MORE electricity in the same area because thermal limitations are minimized.

Answer 4

The electrons don't really move so much as the power does (insert physics and EE stuff here) but colder metal is a better conductor than hot metal. This is why a light bulb is most apt to burn out when you first turn it on, especially in the cold. Initially the cold filament will try to carry more current, as it heats up and begins to produce light, the resistance increases. If the bulb is near the end of its life, that surge can finish it off with a flash. To the guy with the radio, that effect is a feature, the device is warming up to a safe operating temp so it doesn't blow out like a porch lite on a cold night. Your question need to be more specific, are you asking about power, or signal?

Answer 5

It will travel faster at 16 F.

The colder the conductor the faster current.

There are some conductors called "superconductor" that carry a very fast current, but they need to be extremely cold to work.

Answer 6

The rate stays the same. You are talking about speed. Electricity moves at the speed of light, electrons are much slower.

At an atomic scale, electrons jump at c (the speed of light).

At human scale, electron flow is dependant on I (amperes, or current) which is dependant on resistance. Resistance increases with heat, so current flow would drop, and the speed of current. At this scale, electricity moves a measurable rate, see link.

At a larger scale, like a wire from here to the moon, electricity would appear to move faster than the speed of light (appear, but actually not). A switch would instantly turn on a light, but the light would have a delay in being seen.

Answer 7

I'm not 100% sure but using wat i hav been learning at GCSE level this year i wud say 1600 degrees F. Simply because the free electrons would vibrate more rapidly, therefore conducting the electricity at an increased rate.

But definately dont trust me cos i am probably wrong.

Answer 8

the cooler the temperature the better it conducts. how do you think they make superconductors.