A current is established in a gas discharge tube of cross-section 8 × 10 –4 m 2 when a sufficiently high potential difference (say 32 kV) is applied across the two electrodes in the tube. The gas ionises, electrons move towards the positive terminal and positive ions towards the negative terminal. What are the magnitude and sense of the current in a hydrogen discharge tube in which 3 × 10 18 electrons and 2 × 10 18 protons move past cross-sectional area of the tube each second ?
Text Solution
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Sol. Identify the number of electrons and protons passing per second:
Number of electrons per second 
Number of protons per second 
Charge of one electron 
Charge of one proton 
Calculate total charge per second due to electrons:
Calculate total charge per second due to protons:
Since current is the rate of charge flow, total current 
is the sum of magnitudes of charge flow per second:
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