Why is the average thermal velocity 0?

Question

Thermal velocity is the velocity of the free electron due to their random motion. So how is the average value 0?

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered May 14 '16 at 15:48

2

Their average speed would be non zero but their average velocity would be zero as long as they are not moving preferentially in one direction.

answered May 14 '16 at 15:48

M. Enns

1 Answers1