Re: Basic Question

In sci.physics.electromag, "Szczepan Bia?ek" <sz.bialek@xxxxx> wrote:

<EskWIRED@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote news:g9ua63$c27$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In sci.physics.electromag, Salmon Egg <SalmonEgg@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


I guessed that the electrons are moving faster, but you say that is
incorrect. So what is the answer?

Are the electrons packed more densely at higher voltage?

You have the two possibilities: The hydraulic analogy and the gas analogy.

Yeah. And those analogies screw me up, because they work pefectly
sometimes, and mislead at others. I was using the plumbing analogy when I
imagined that the velocity of the electrons must incease at higher
voltage, given that the velocity of the water is greater at higher
pressures.

But I was wrong. Apparently the velocity is dependent upon the dialectric
constant of the material surrounding the conductor.

In the first the electrons must move faster. In the second the electrons are
packed more densely at higher voltage.

Yep.

The hydraulic analogy is for school-children (piece to teach). For adults is
the gas analogy.

So are the electrons packed together more densely at higher voltages?
Just like the gas molecules at higher psi? ISTM that the main difference
between the two models is that gas can be compressed, while liquids
cannot. So can electricity be "compressed" into higher voltage?

Or is the analogy imperfect and misleading in this application?

--
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so
certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.
-- Bertrand Russel

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