Re: Reason and eloquence

"J.V.Ashby" <J.V.Ashby@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

boots wrote:


Perhaps you can answer two questions that puzzle me.

First, what exactly is "alternating current"?


current is what happens when electrons flow from one place to another,
usually down a wire (so one-dimensional). In direct current, they all
flow in the same direction all the time. In alternating current they
flow first in one direction, then in the other, then in the first
direction again (think of commuter traffic), with a regular
periodicity.

Yah, I knew all that stuff. But what exactly is "alternating
current"? I'm looking for deeper thoughts here, maybe I asked the
wrong guy, but Ray doesn't seem like he'd have startling insights into
this particular subject. However since I asked in a pubic forum, he's
certainly able to jump in and barf them out should that be his choice.
Or maybe I asked the wrong question. How far does each electron (or
hole, whatever) have to move during an alternating current? I've just
never really understood this whole electrickcity thing, that's not to
say I can't wire up a fairly comples application, but it's rote and
good juju, not real understanding.

Second, given that there is a difference in electrical potential
between any two points in space, how does one grow a chip that will
sort them out and collect them into usable power?


I don't understand the question.

How can you not understand that question? Was it really that poorly
written? Did you understand any of it, if so which part did you not
understand?

--
If I get rid of the sig a commercial will magically appear in its place, ain't that special?
.

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