Physics Exam  >  Physics Questions  >  Effective mass of an electron in an semicondu... Start Learning for Free
Effective mass of an electron in an semiconductor
  • a)
    can never be negative
  • b)
    can be positive or negative 
  • c)
    Depend on its spin
  • d)
    can never be positive
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Effective mass of an electron in an semiconductora)can never be negati...
The correct answer is: can never be negative
View all questions of this test
Most Upvoted Answer
Effective mass of an electron in an semiconductora)can never be negati...
The effective mass of an electron in a semiconductor refers to the mass that the electron behaves as within the crystal lattice of the semiconductor. It is a concept used to simplify the mathematical description of the electron's behavior in the presence of external forces and electric fields. The effective mass can be thought of as the mass of an electron in free space that would exhibit the same behavior as the electron in the semiconductor.

The effective mass of an electron in a semiconductor can never be negative. This is because the effective mass is a positive quantity that represents the inertia of the electron and its response to external forces. A negative mass would imply that the electron moves in the opposite direction of an applied force, which contradicts the basic principles of classical mechanics.

Furthermore, the effective mass can never be positive. The effective mass of an electron in a semiconductor is always positive or zero. A positive effective mass indicates that the electron behaves as if it has a larger mass in the crystal lattice compared to its free space mass. This is due to the influence of the crystal lattice on the electron's motion. A zero effective mass indicates that the electron behaves as if it is massless, such as in certain regions of the energy band structure in some semiconductors.

The effective mass of an electron does not depend on its spin. Spin is a fundamental property of particles and does not directly affect the mass of the electron. The effective mass is determined by the band structure of the semiconductor, which is a result of the interactions between the electrons and the crystal lattice.

In conclusion, the effective mass of an electron in a semiconductor can never be negative and can be positive or zero. It is a positive quantity that represents the inertia of the electron and its response to external forces. The effective mass is determined by the band structure of the semiconductor and does not depend on the electron's spin.
Free Test
Community Answer
Effective mass of an electron in an semiconductora)can never be negati...
Mass can never be negative it is always positive
Explore Courses for Physics exam
Effective mass of an electron in an semiconductora)can never be negativeb)can be positive or negativec)Depend on its spind)can never be positiveCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
Effective mass of an electron in an semiconductora)can never be negativeb)can be positive or negativec)Depend on its spind)can never be positiveCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? for Physics 2024 is part of Physics preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the Physics exam syllabus. Information about Effective mass of an electron in an semiconductora)can never be negativeb)can be positive or negativec)Depend on its spind)can never be positiveCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for Physics 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Effective mass of an electron in an semiconductora)can never be negativeb)can be positive or negativec)Depend on its spind)can never be positiveCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for Effective mass of an electron in an semiconductora)can never be negativeb)can be positive or negativec)Depend on its spind)can never be positiveCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for Physics. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for Physics Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of Effective mass of an electron in an semiconductora)can never be negativeb)can be positive or negativec)Depend on its spind)can never be positiveCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of Effective mass of an electron in an semiconductora)can never be negativeb)can be positive or negativec)Depend on its spind)can never be positiveCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Effective mass of an electron in an semiconductora)can never be negativeb)can be positive or negativec)Depend on its spind)can never be positiveCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Effective mass of an electron in an semiconductora)can never be negativeb)can be positive or negativec)Depend on its spind)can never be positiveCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Effective mass of an electron in an semiconductora)can never be negativeb)can be positive or negativec)Depend on its spind)can never be positiveCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice Physics tests.
Explore Courses for Physics exam
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev