Identify the correct statements

(A) Electric current arises due to the continuous flow of electrons or ions.
(B) A current flows through a conductor only when there is an electric field within the conductor.
(C) The drift velocity of electrons is directly proportional to the applied electric field.
(D) The average thermal velocity of the electrons in a conductor is zero.
(E) In the absence of an electric field, the electrons in a conductor are at rest.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(A), (B), (C) and (D) only

The correct answer is Option (1) → (A), (B), (C) and (D) only

$\text{(A) Correct. Electric current arises due to the continuous flow of electrons in metals or ions in electrolytes. Without the movement of these charge carriers, there would be no current.}$

$\text{(B) Correct. A current flows through a conductor only when an electric field exists inside it, which exerts force on the charge carriers and causes them to move.}$

$\text{(C) Correct. The drift velocity } v_d \text{ of electrons is directly proportional to the applied electric field } E: v_d = \mu E, \text{ where } \mu \text{ is the mobility of electrons.}$

$\text{(D) Correct. Electrons in a conductor have random thermal motion, but the average of all their thermal velocities is zero because the motions cancel each other out.}$

$\text{(E) Incorrect. Even in the absence of an electric field, electrons are not at rest; they still move randomly due to thermal energy.}$