Answer:
n = 1.7*10²² electrons.
Explanation:
- As the current, by definition, is the rate of change of charge, assuming that the current was flowing at a steady rate of .151 A during the 5 hours, we can find the total charge that passed perpendicular to the cross-section of the circuit, as follows:
[tex]I =\frac{\Delta q}{\Delta t} \\ \\ \Delta q = I* \Delta t \\ \\ \Delta t = 5hs*\frac{3600s}{1h} = 18000 s[/tex]
⇒ Δq = I * Δt = 0.151 A * 18000 s = 2718 C
- As this charge is carried by electrons, we can express this value as the product of the elementary charge e (charge of a single electron) times the number of electrons flowing during that time, as follows:
Δq = n*e
[tex]n = \frac{\Delta q}{e} =\frac{2718C}{1.6-19C} = 1.7e22 electrons.[/tex]
