A current is established in a gas discharge tube when a sufficiently high potential difference is applied across the two electrodes in the tube. The gas ionizes; electrons move toward the positive terminal and singly charged positive ions move toward the negative terminal. What is the current in a hydrogen discharge tube in which 3.4 ✕ 1018 electrons and 1.4 ✕ 1018 protons move past a cross-sectional area of the tube each second? (Enter the magnitude.)

Explanation:

It is given that the number of electrons passing through the cross-sectional area in 1 s is . Also, we know that charge on an electron is , then negative charge crossing to the left per second is  as follows.

         I- =

         I- = 0.544 A

As it is given that the number of protons crossing per second is , as the charge on the proton is , then positive charge crossing to the right per second is calculated as follows.

          I+ =

            I+ = 0.224 A

          I = l I+ l + l I- l

So,    I = 0.544 + 0.224

            = 0.768 A

Thus, we can conclude that the current in given hydrogen discharge tube is 0.768 A.

double the distance = divide strength by 4