Important Two Marks Question and Answers in Electrical Properties of Materials

Part - A '2' Marks Q & A

ANNA UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1. Give any two postulates of classical free electron theory. (A.U. Dec 2016)

i. According to this theory, a metal consists of a very large number of free electrons. These free electrons move freely throughout the volume of the metal. They are fully responsible for the electrical conduction in the metal.

ii. Drude assumed that the free electrons in a metal form an electron gas. These free electrons move randomly in all possible directions just like the gas molecules move in a container.

2. Define mean free path. (A.U. Dec 2011, June 2012)

The average distance travelled by a free electron between any two successive collisions in the presence of an applied field is known as mean free path.

It is the product of drift velocity of electrons (v_d) and collision time (τ_c).

λ = v_d x τ_c

3. Define relaxation time of an electron. (A.U. May 2011, Dec 2012)

The average time taken by a free electron to reach its equilibrium state from its disturbed state due to application of an external electrical field is called relaxation time.

4. Define drift velocity of electron. How is it different from the thermal velocity of an electron? (A.U. May 2014, Dec 2015)

The average velocity acquired by a free electron in a particular direction after a steady state is reached on the application of an electrical field is called drift velocity. It is denoted as v_d and its value is very small (50 cm/s)

The thermal velocity is random in nature and its value is very high (10⁵ m/s).

5. Define mobility of electrons. (A.U. May 2016)

The magnitude of the drift velocity acquired by the electrons per unit electric field is defined as the mobility of electrons (µ)

i.e., µ = v_d / E

where v_d → Drift velocity of electrons

E → Electrical field.

6. Define electrical conductivity. What is its unit. (A.U. April 2011, Dec 2012)

The amount of electrical charges (q) conducted per unit time (t) across unit area (A) of the conductor for unit applied electrical field (E) is defined as electrical conductivity.

σ = q / t A E

Its unit is ohm^-1 m^-1 or mho m^-1

7. What are the merits of classical free electron theory? (A.U. May 2012)

i. It is used to verify Ohm's law.

ii. It is used to explain electrical and thermal conductivities of metals.

iii. It is used to derive Wiedemann - Franz law.

iv. It is used to explain the optical properties of metal.

8. What are the drawbacks of classical free electron theory? (A.U. May 2011, June 2013, Dec 2015)

i. Classical theory states that all free electrons will absorb the supplied energy; on the contrary, quantum theory states that only a few electrons will absorb the supplied energy.

ii. Electrical conductivity of semiconductors and insulators (non-metals) cannot be explained.

iii. The phenomena such as photo-electric effect, Compton effect and black body radiation cannot be explained on the basis of this theory because these phenomena are based on quantum theory.

9. Define Fermi distribution function. (A.U. May 2013)

The probability F (E) of an electron occupancy for a given energy level at temperature T is known as Fermi distribution function. It is given by

E_F → Fermi level

k → Boltzmann's constant

T → Absolute temperature

E → Energy of the level whose occupancy is being considered.

10. Write down the expression for the Fermi distribution law and explain for the electrons in a metal. (A.U. May 2016)

Fermi distribution function is given by

where E_F is called Fermi energy

if E < E_F, all levels are filled with electrons

i.e., F(E) = 1

if E > E_F, all levels are empty

i.e., F(E) = 0

if T > 0 K at E_F, F(E) = 1/2

11. Define Fermi level and Fermi energy with its importance. (A.U. Dec. 2012, May 2013, Dec 2014, June 2013, Dec 2016)

Fermi level: It is the energy level at finite temperature above 0 K in which the probability of the electron occupation is 1/2 and it is also the level of maximum energy of the filled states at 0 K.

Fermi energy: It is the energy of the state at which the probability of the electron occupation is 1/2 at any temperature above 0 K. It is also the maximum energy of filled states at 0 K.

Importance: Fermi level and Fermi energy determine the probability of an electron occupation for a given energy level at a given temperature.

12. Define density of states. What is its use? (A.U. June 2013, Dec 2014, June 2016)

It is defined as the number of available electron states per unit volume in an energy interval E and E + dE. It is denoted by Z (E).

It is used to determine Fermi energy at any temperature.

13. Calculate the drift velocity of the free electrons with a mobility of 3.5 × 10^-3 m² V^-1 s^-1 in copper for an electric field strength of 0.5 V/m (A.U. June 2014)

Given data

Mobility of free electrons (μ) = 3.5 × 10^-3 m² V^-1 s^-1

Electric field strength of copper (E) = 0.5 Vm^-1

Solution

Drift velocity v_d = μ × E = 3.5 × 10^-3 × 0.5= 1.75 x 10^-3

v_d = 0.00175 ms^-1

ADDITIONAL QUESTION & ANSWER

1. What is electron theory of solids?

The electrons in the outermost orbit of the atoms which constitute the solids determine its electrical properties. The electron theory of solids explains the structure and properties of solids through their electronic structure.

2. What are special features of classical free electron theory of solids?

In a metal, the free electrons of an atom are free to move about the entire volume of the metal like the molecules of a perfect gas in a container. These free electrons in the metal are responsible for electrical conduction.

3. What is a periodic potential.

When an electron moves through a solid, its potential energy varies periodically with the periodicity equal to period of space lattice 'a' (interatomic distance). This is called periodic potential.

4. What is an energy band?

A set of closely spaced energy levels is called an energy band.

5. What is an effective mass of electron?

The mass acquired by an electron when it is accelerated in a periodic potential is called effective mass of an electron. It is denoted by m.