Physics

Drift Velocity Calculator

Find the drift velocity of electrons in a conductor.

Calculated Output

Drift velocity 0.0001

Formula: v = I ÷ (n·A·q)

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. Values used:

2. Current = 1 A

3. Charge carrier density = 8.5e+28 1/m³

4. Cross-section area = 1 mm²

6. Drift velocity = 0.0001

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The math behind it

v = I ÷ (n·A·q). Surprisingly, electrons drift only fractions of a millimetre per second.

1 A in 1 mm² copper → about 7.4 × 10⁻⁵ m/s.

Why does electricity seem instant?

The electric field propagates near light speed even though electrons drift slowly.