drwls said this is wrong but i don't know what's correct
the enregy gained by electrons as they are accelerated by an electric field is
a. greater than the average loss in energy due to collissions
b. equal to the avergae loss in energy due to collissions
c. less than the average loss in energy due to collissions
d. not affected by the gain in energy due to collissions
i get D
If the electron continues to be accelerated then it must be gaining more energy from work done by the field than it is losing by collisions along the way.
then it's A?
In my previous answer, I assumed a steady state situation such as exists in a gas discharge where the energy gained by electrons between collisions equals the average energy lost in inelastic collisions.
Damon is describing a different unsteady situation.
Take your pick
To determine the correct answer to this question, let's break it down and consider the various components involved:
1. Energy gained by electrons as they are accelerated by an electric field: When electrons are accelerated in an electric field, they gain kinetic energy. This is because the electric field does work on the electrons, converting electric potential energy into kinetic energy. Therefore, there is an increase in energy.
2. Average loss in energy due to collisions: Electrons in a conducting material experience collisions with other particles (such as atoms or other electrons) as they move through the material. These collisions can cause energy loss through processes like electron scattering or heat dissipation. Therefore, there is a decrease in energy.
Based on these considerations, we can now assess the given options:
a. Greater than the average loss in energy due to collisions: This choice suggests that the energy gained by the electrons due to acceleration is more significant than the energy lost due to collisions. However, this is incorrect since collisions typically cause energy loss, which is unlikely to be outweighed by the energy gained from acceleration.
b. Equal to the average loss in energy due to collisions: This option suggests that the energy gained by acceleration is equal to the energy lost due to collisions. This could be a possibility since both processes involve energy changes. However, it is not necessarily true since collisions generally result in a net energy loss.
c. Less than the average loss in energy due to collisions: This choice implies that the energy gained from acceleration is smaller than the energy lost due to collisions. This is the most likely option since, as mentioned earlier, collisions tend to result in a net energy loss.
d. Not affected by the gain in energy due to collisions: This option suggests that the gain in energy due to collisions does not have any impact. However, this is not consistent with the fact that collisions generally lead to energy loss.
Therefore, the correct answer is option c: Less than the average loss in energy due to collisions.