When a light switch is turned on in a dc circuit, the average speed of electrons in the lamp is
A) less than 1 cm/s.
B) the speed of sound waves in metal.
C) 1000 cm/s.
D) the speed of light.
E) dependent on how quickly each electron bumps into the next electron.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The average speed of electrons in a lamp when a light switch is turned on in a DC circuit is indeed less than 1 cm/s. This slow movement is known as the drift velocity. Despite the electrons themselves moving slowly, the electric field that drives them propagates at a much faster rate, allowing electrical signals to be transmitted almost instantaneously.

When a Light Switch Is Turned on in a Dc