Question

When electrons drift in a metal from lower to higher potential, does it mean that all the free electrons of the metal are moving in the same direction?

Answer 1

Hint: Electrons help in the flow of current. They move in the opposite direction of current. The cause of the movement is indeed the potential difference between two points. The point to think is that is there any exception to the movement of electrons.

Complete step by step solution:
No, all the free electrons do not move in the same direction. The net movement of the electron is from the lower to the higher potential. Some electrons may move in higher potential to lower potential, may not move or may move in any other direction.

Additional Information:
Current is determined by the flow of electrons. It is given by the number of electrons passing through a cross sectional area in unit time. However current and electrons move in opposite directions. Current flows from the higher potential to lower potential while electrons flow from lower to higher potential.
Current is determined by the number of electrons passing through a cross-section of a conductor in one second. Current is measured in amperes, which is abbreviated "amps". The symbol for amps is a $A$ .
A current of $1A$ means that current that passes through a cross-section of two infinitely long conductors, which are placed in parallel $1m$ apart, experiences a force of $2 \times {10^{ - 7}}N/m$ by each conductor. It can also mean charges of $1$ coulomb (or $6.24 \times {10^{18}}$ electrons) passing through a cross-section of a conductor in second.

Note: Remember that although all electrons do not flow in the same direction, a large fraction of the electrons flows from the lower potential to the higher potential. There is a very small fraction of electrons that do not flow in that direction. Hence the net movement will always be from lower potential to the higher potential.