4 ms·
I don't think you are correct. For electricity to propagate at near light speed, electrons will have to move at near light speed, if only for a short time. Or
by Ono-Sendai 6y ago
I don't think you are correct.
For electricity to propagate at near light speed, electrons will have to move at near light speed, if only for a short time. Or to be a little more precise, shape changes in the electron wavefunction will need to propagate at near light speed.
I think we can do this to electrons because their mass is so low.
This only really applies when a circuit is opened or closed however. Once a circuit reaches a stable state (voltage is unchanged) the electrons don't move fast, I guess.
- StillBored 6y agoNo, he is correct, its the wave that propagates at a fraction of the speed of light (depending on the conductor). The electrons themselves don't move very fast. "An electron travels at a speed of about 1 cm/sec. " (in copper) per: https://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=2916283&seqNum=4 https://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=2916283&seq... This should be taught in a basic AP physics class in HS (where i initially heard it). I vaguely remember doing some of these calculations in my physics for engineers class as a first year engineering student too.
- Ono-Sendai 6y agoThat article is probably wrong too. A changed electric field requires a change in the position of electrons. Hence a fast signal change requires fast position changes.