Geoffkait 9-3-2017
No one has answered my question, why there is a net velocity for electrons? Assuming electrons move back and forth with alternating current which I’m not convinced they actually do.
I believe I did answer that, Geoff:
Almarg 9-3-2017
...there is no **overall** net movement of the electrons, assuming that the DC component of the applied voltage is zero. However, within each half-cycle of the applied voltage there is net electron movement and net velocity in one direction or the other, the direction corresponding to the +/- polarity of the applied voltage at that instant. I had said that in one of my early posts in this thread.
So yes, the electrons moving at drift velocity do move back and forth with alternating current, never moving very far from their original location, assuming no DC is present. The Wikipedia writeup you quoted even alluded to that: "... electrons flowing across the contact point in a switch will never actually leave the switch."
Also,
Geoffkait 9-3-2017
To say there is a Fermi velocity when current is present makes no sense since electrons travel axially.
Again, I believe that is incorrect. Under the influence of an applied voltage/electric field, I believe that ALL electrons do NOT travel axially, in a direction corresponding to the polarity of the applied voltage, just SOME of them do. I believe that some of them continue to move in a random manner, at the Fermi velocity.
If that were not true, how much voltage would have to be applied for ALL of the electrons to suddenly cease moving in a random manner at Fermi velocity, and obediently start moving in an axial manner at drift velocity? 1000 volts? 120 volts? 1 volt? 1 millivolt? 1 microvolt? 1 nanovolt? 1 picovolt? How much current is necessary to be able to say that "current is present"? 10 amperes? 1 ampere? 0.0000000000001 amperes?
I hope you see my point. In any event, barring further questions from others I’m done with this discussion.
Regards,
-- Al