P
Robin (College Student),
I have taken the liberty to post this new thread because your post is too far removed from the intent of the MVARS thread! However, your questions are excellent ones. The answers follow:
A1) Yes, power does not "flow" in the conductor, but instead outside! The paragraph you quoted about transmission lines is on target. Electrons do not directly transmit power, and their "speed" certainly not that of the speed-of-light. In fact it's only about mm per sec. If you want additional information than can be found in college physics texts I suggest you perform a Web Search for, "The Poynting Vector!" (Those offended by the V-word need not participate!)
A2) Yes, a 1,000-mile separation of the phase and neutral wires would prevent you from starting your computer, but not for the reason you posited. Instead, it has to do with inductance associated with a two-wire transmission line. Its magnitude is proportional to the ratio of S, their separation and, D their diameter! Of course I've ignored their resistances, their beginning and end-constructs, and the not so trivial case when D = S, i.e., 1,000 miles! Note: This problem appeared early in the history of AC power; e.g., for series street lighting when a single conductor ran down one street and its return along the next street!
Regards, Phil Corso ([email protected])
I have taken the liberty to post this new thread because your post is too far removed from the intent of the MVARS thread! However, your questions are excellent ones. The answers follow:
A1) Yes, power does not "flow" in the conductor, but instead outside! The paragraph you quoted about transmission lines is on target. Electrons do not directly transmit power, and their "speed" certainly not that of the speed-of-light. In fact it's only about mm per sec. If you want additional information than can be found in college physics texts I suggest you perform a Web Search for, "The Poynting Vector!" (Those offended by the V-word need not participate!)
A2) Yes, a 1,000-mile separation of the phase and neutral wires would prevent you from starting your computer, but not for the reason you posited. Instead, it has to do with inductance associated with a two-wire transmission line. Its magnitude is proportional to the ratio of S, their separation and, D their diameter! Of course I've ignored their resistances, their beginning and end-constructs, and the not so trivial case when D = S, i.e., 1,000 miles! Note: This problem appeared early in the history of AC power; e.g., for series street lighting when a single conductor ran down one street and its return along the next street!
Regards, Phil Corso ([email protected])