Engineering Physics Chapter 3

Electrical Conductivity in Metals

This chapter helps students prepare conductivity, resistivity, drift velocity, and quantum free-electron theory for Semester 1 Engineering Physics exams.

Why Study This Chapter

• useful for theory plus formula-based questions
• important for classical versus quantum free-electron theory comparison
• supports understanding of conductivity in metals and Fermi-level concepts

Topics Covered

• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Properties of Metals
• 3.3 Classical Free Electron Theory
• 3.3.1 Free-electron Concept
• 3.3.2 Assumptions of Classical Free-electron Theory
• 3.3.3 Expression for Drift Velocity
• 3.3.4 Expression for Electrical Conductivity in Metals
• 3.3.5 Effect of Impurity and Temperature on Electrical Resistivity of Metals
• 3.3.6 Failure of Classical Free-electron Theory
• 3.4 Quantum Free-electron Theory
• 3.4.1 Assumptions
• 3.4.2 Fermi-Dirac Statistics
• 3.4.3 Fermi-energy - Fermi Factor
• 3.4.4 Density of States
• 3.4.5 Expression for Electrical Resistivity/Conductivity
• 3.4.6 Temperature Dependence of Resistivity of Metals
• 3.4.7 Merits of Quantum Free-electron Theory
• Solved Problems
• Exercises

Related Study Links

• Open Full Engineering Physics Subject Note
• Go to Chapter 2: Quantum Mechanics
• Go to Chapter 4: Dielectric and Magnetic Properties of Materials