Skip to main content

Direct Currents

  • Chapter
  • 410 Accesses

Abstract

We have seen that a conducting object tolerates no electric field in its interior as long as static equilibrium prevails. Suppose now that an electric field is nevertheless maintained there by some means. Then static equilibrium cannot exist; some motion of charge will occur. For example, a copper wire connected across the terminals of a battery does indeed have an electric field in it. Conduction electrons then flow along the wire, amounting to an electric current.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1991 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Wellner, M. (1991). Direct Currents. In: Elements of Physics. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3860-8_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3860-8_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-306-43354-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-3860-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics