DIFFUSION & CONDUCTIVITY OF MATERIALS:

Objectives:
1. The conductivity of a conductor can be increased by

(A) decreasing its temperature (B) increasing its temperature

(C) decreasing its vibration (D) increasing its vibration
2. The forbidden energy gap in semiconductor

(A)lies just below the valence band

(B) lies just above the conduction band
(C) lies in between the conduction band and valence band
(D) is the same as the valence band
3. The steady state conditions in diffusion are governed by

(A) Fick’s second law. (B) Fick’s first law.

(C) both (A) and (B). (D) Maxwell-Boltzmann’s law
4. The probability of occupancy of electrons above Fermi level at T=0°K is

(A) 0 %. (B) 25%.

(C) 50%. (D) 100%.
5. The probability of occupation of an energy level E, when , is given by

(A) 0.73 (B) 0.63

(C) 0.5 (D) 0.27

SUBJECTIVES:
1. Explain the difference between self-diffusion and inter-diffusion. (4)

2. Derive the formula for electrical conductivity in metals and show that the conductivity is
proportional to the density of free electrons and to the electron mobility. (6)

3.How do the electrical and mechanical properties of copper compare with that of aluminium,
for use as conductor? (6)
4. State Fick’s law of diffusion. Explain it in respect of non-steady-state flow. Discuss the
doping applications of Fick’s law describing non-steady-state flow.
(2+4+2)

b. What is density of energy states? Draw a plot between density of states and the
energy of electrons. Explain why nichrome is used as a heating element instead of
copper. (2+2+4)
5. (i) Explain laws of diffusion.
(ii) Explain atomic model of diffusion. (8)
6. Obtain a relationship between the conductivity and mobility of charge carriers in a semi-
conducting specimen. Explain the temperature dependence of conductivity. (8)
7. a. What are the main sources of electrical resistance in a metal? Discuss the effect of
impurity, temperature and alloying on the electrical conductivity of metal (4+6)

b. Explain why nichrome and not copper is used as a heating element where as manganin
is used as standard resistance. (6)
8. a. Explain superconductivity and its two applications. Why the conductivity of metals
decreases with temperature whereas the conductivity of semiconductor increases
with temperature? Explain qualitatively. (10)

b. What is Fermi energy? Describe the Fermi-Dirac distribution of the kinetic

energy of free electrons in a metal.