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Consider the two statements below. Statement 1: The drift speed of electrons in a metal is very small (a few mm/s) and the electronic charge is also tiny (1.6 x 10⁻¹⁹ C), yet a large current can flow through the metal. Statement 2: At room temperature the random thermal speed of electrons is very large (about 10⁷ times the drift speed). Choose the correct option regarding these statements.

1. Statement 1 is True, Statement 2 is True, but Statement 2 is NOT a correct explanation of Statement 1.
2. Statement 1 is True, Statement 2 is True, and Statement 2 is a correct explanation of Statement 1.
3. Statement 1 is True, Statement 2 is False.
4. Statement 1 is False, Statement 2 is True.

Correct answer: Statement 1 is True, Statement 2 is True, but Statement 2 is NOT a correct explanation of Statement 1.

Solution

A large current arises because of the enormous number of free electrons (I = n e A v_d), not because of thermal speed; thus both statements are true but Statement 2 is not the explanation.

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