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A wire has a non-uniform cross-section as shown in the figure. A steady current is flowing through it. Then the drift speed of the electrons while going from A to B ______.

Asked in RS Academy GUJCET booklet · Drift velocity, mobility and current density

Figure: Drift velocity, mobility and current density
Answer: (2) decreases

Step-by-step solution

Idea: in a steady state the same current I crosses every cross-section, otherwise charge would pile up somewhere.

I=neAv_d, and n and e are the same all along the wire.

So v_d=I/(neA), that is v_d∝1/A.

In the figure the cross-section grows from the narrow end A to the wide end B.

So the drift speed decreases as the electrons go from A to B.

Why the other options are wrong

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