---
title: "Free electrons inside a copper wire drift to the left with a constant average speed \\(v_d\\), as shown in the diagram. Which of the following correctly identifies the direction of the conventional current in the wire and describes how the magnitude of the electric current \\(I\\) depends on the cross-sectional area \\(A\\) of the wire, assuming \\(v_d\\) and the charge carrier density remain constant?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/117363/"
date_modified: "2026-08-04T06:51:57+00:00"
---

# Free electrons inside a copper wire drift to the left with a constant average speed \(v_d\), as shown in the diagram. Which of the following correctly identifies the direction of the conventional current in the wire and describes how the magnitude of the electric current \(I\) depends on the cross-sectional area \(A\) of the wire, assuming \(v_d\) and the charge carrier density remain constant?

Free electrons inside a copper wire drift to the left with a constant average speed \(v_d\), as shown in the diagram. Which of the following correctly identifies the direction of the conventional current in the wire and describes how the magnitude of the electric current \(I\) depends on the cross-sectional area \(A\) of the wire, assuming \(v_d\) and the charge carrier density remain constant?

![A horizontal cylindrical segment of copper wire is shown centered. Inside the wire, five small circles representing free electrons are placed at various positions, each labeled with a minus sign (-) inside. Attached to the left side of each electron circle is a horizontal arrow pointing to the left, labeled v_d to represent drift velocity. The electrons drift to the left through the wire. No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1785826317-EPPirC.jpg)

- **A.** To the left; current is inversely proportional to cross-sectional area
- **B.** To the left; current is directly proportional to cross-sectional area
- **C.** To the right; current is directly proportional to cross-sectional area
- **D.** To the right; current is inversely proportional to cross-sectional area

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/117363/*