Free Electron Model of Conduction in Metals · BPhO 2020 #4
Physics · modern-physics
Problem
This question is about conduction in a metal. Data on the metal sodium can be found at the end of the question. (Sodium has one free electron per atom for conduction.)
Conduction in metals can be usefully discussed in terms of the free electron model. We can consider "free" electrons that move with complete freedom throughout a metallic solid, subject only to reflection at the inside surface of the conducting body. Classically the electron has a large random thermal motion with a superimposed