4 ms·
Whaaat? Electricity does not flow at the speed of light? OH THE HUMANITY!!!!
by hyperliner 10y ago
Whaaat? Electricity does not flow at the speed of light?
OH THE HUMANITY!!!!
- pjc50 10y agoEM radiation moves at the speed of light; electrical fields and signals move near the speed of light, depending on the surrounding dielectric properties; electrons in conductors move fairly slowly. Yes, this is kind of confusing.
- syncsynchalt 10y agoElectric potential travels at nearly the speed of light, the electrons themselves do not (they flow at a rate proportional in some way to the amount of potential, iirc).
- wbeaty 10y agoWhen I step into the pond, the ENTIRE WATER LEVEL RISES AT THE SAME TIME! Water must travel instantly? So, a hydro dam is actually a method for sucking the energy out of the entire surface of a lake, all at the same time! (Actually the pressure-waves travel at the speed of sound in water, a few thousand MPH.) It doesn't happen instantly, but damn close.