2006-08-16 16:07:31 · 14 answers · asked by scootda2nd 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Not yet, but with the phenomena of superconductivity it can travel
with zero resistance.Theoretically, once the current is initiated in a wire under superconducting conditions , with all external magnetic fields eliminated, it is believed the current would run for 100, 000 years , round and round. The person(s) that develops a conductor that can achieve superconductivity at temps higher than several degrees above absolute zero will certainly earn a Nobel prize and become extraordinarily wealthy.
Note: as the case here, narcissisticguy above, in all his answers, although not credited , has been providing some of the very best answers , kudos and thanks. Now lets form a think tank what do you say?
2006-08-17 08:25:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. The wire gives the electricity resistance. Electricians measure this resistance in units called Ohms. Same thing for light travelling in any medium other than a vacuum.
Sidenote: scientists have been experimenting with various materials to slow down the speed of a photon. Recently, they have managed to make light travel "backwards". It would take too long to explain here but look it up on the web or pick up a copy of Scientific American from a couple months ago I think (could have been another science mag).
2006-08-16 23:18:48 · answer #2 · answered by narcissisticguy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Electricity in wire is essentially moving electrons. Electrons are physical particles that have mass. Nothing with mass can travel at the speed of light. In an answer to a similar question some time ago, someone reported that the speed of electricity in a wire was 7 inch per nanosecond. This seems possible, since the speed of light is about 12 in per nanosecond
2006-08-16 23:17:46 · answer #3 · answered by gp4rts 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Without complicating this with an argument of semantics - i.e. the definition of "electricity" The answer is a simple "Yes." At first thought, you might think that this is yet another paradox given that matter (electrons) cannot travel at the speed of light. It is not the speed of an electron throgh the wire that is being measured (this is actually pretty slow) but, instead, it is the measurement of the effect of pushing or pulling an electron in one end of the wire and spitting a different electron out of the other end - and this effect is equal to C.
2006-08-16 23:54:18 · answer #4 · answered by LeAnne 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is a tricky question. The electrons themselves don't move too fast on average (they bounce around a lot but gradually drift in one direction).
The electric field that pushes these electrons along gets set up in the wire very fast, near the speed of light in a vacuum. However, the speed of light in wire is a little lower, given by 1/sqrt(mu*epsilon) , where mu is the permeability and epsilon is the permittivity. Mu is very slightly higher in wire than vacuum.
Think of a tube of ping-pong balls, open on both ends. If you push one ball at one end, the ball at the other end almost instantly pops out. The balls may be moving slowing, but the effect seen on the end is very quick.
2006-08-16 23:34:50 · answer #5 · answered by Captain_Ahab_ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hehehe. I *love* these questions.
The answer lies in the definition of the question. What means "electricity"?
If you mean the movement of electrons under the influence of an electric field (current. One coulomb/sec. is one amper) then the answer is *NO*. The electrons in most conductors only move at a few cm/s.
If, however, you mean the propagation velocity of the electric field (which causes the electrons to move) through the wire, that is a bit lower than the speed of light.
And it has *nothing* to do with resistance. It has to do with the 'inductance' and 'capacitance' of the wire (as opposed to the 'permeability and permittivity' of free space)
Doug
2006-08-16 23:27:22 · answer #6 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Close to speed of light in vacuum
2006-08-16 23:29:42 · answer #7 · answered by Dr M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A wire would cause friction and slow it down while there is nothing in a vacuum to do that.
2006-08-16 23:13:27 · answer #8 · answered by karen wonderful 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. It travels more slowly due to the resistance it encounters in the wire.
2006-08-16 23:12:43 · answer #9 · answered by cyanne2ak 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Velocity of a free electron is calculated as follows;
1.60217733 x10^-19 divided by 9.1^-31 =1.76 x10^11
the sqrt is =4.19 x10^5 meter per second which is the final velocity of the electron in its travel.
If the Electron is captive in an atom it can move at velocity near the speed of light.Due to electrostatic gravity.
2006-08-16 23:44:16 · answer #10 · answered by goring 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋