It really would be wonderful to have electricity available to any consumer of electricity without wires running alllllll the place, thus saving on transmission losses also!
2006-09-23 06:57:43 · 10 answers · asked by varun s 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Tesla (the man, not the band) figured out how to do it.
"He generated AC of one million volts using a conical Tesla coil and investigated the skin effect in conductors, designed tuned circuits, invented a machine for inducing sleep, cordless gas discharge lamps, and transmitted electromagnetic energy without wires..."
from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Tesla
2006-09-28 04:12:51 · answer #1 · answered by yermomsux 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is possible to transmit electromagnetic energy from place to place without wires. We use a device called radar to do it. It is not lossless, though-- the beam spreads out and some is lost.
There is another way. Using a device to make the microwaves coherent, or by making light waves coherent, we have a maser, or laser. These can direct energy to a point at a distance.
Yet even they have their problems. The atmosphere still attenuates the beam. and power is lost. Plus, they are dangerous for anybody who might walk in the way of the beam! If you want to transmit enough power to run, say a microwave oven, you could get cooked!
For a classic story about the ailments society would experience if we were to start using beamed power systems, read Robert Heinlein's Waldo.
2006-09-23 07:27:16 · answer #2 · answered by cdf-rom 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nikola Tesla attempted to do what you are talking about, he built a massive telsa coil at Colorado Springs, his idea was to transmit energy into the atmosphere and have this energy in phase with other transmitters around the world, there was strong opposition to his ideas even though they may have been more efficient than Edison's DC and wire system. The biggest problem was working out how people would pay for the energy because there was no way of working out who was using the energy, anyone could simply put up a length of wire and collect the energy.
The idea died when Tesla, in his experimentation burnt out a hydroelectric power station, had this not have happened history may have delivered our generation with wireless energy.
2006-09-24 06:02:28 · answer #3 · answered by treb67 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The transmission losses are MUCH higher sending electricity this way. Even with a very focused emission (which is not what you are suggesting), losses are very high and it is very dangerous for anyone to step into the transmission path. If you were to radiate energy in all different directions so that anyone could use it when desired, you would end up wasting tremendous amounts of energy.
2006-09-23 07:01:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If they could do that electric companies would switch to it fast because power lines cost too much to maintain.
A safe way to transmit electricity without wires is magnets.
Wireless transmission of electricity takes place everyday....its called LIGHTNING
2006-09-23 07:08:09 · answer #5 · answered by uqlue42 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As a layman, I understand that it is possible to power devices using magnetism - induced current by placing magnetic coils near each other. This can be seen regularly in MRI scanning rooms where people with joint replacements can experience increased warmth inside the limb containing the joint!
Whether or not this method can be developed as a practical alternative to wired power service around the home remains to be seen.
2006-09-23 07:08:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
There will be great losses if the Electricity transmitted without wires.. as air is a very strong dielectric material....
2006-09-23 07:05:36 · answer #7 · answered by jmdanial 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well ekectrucuty can be transmitted very short distances depending on the amperage. I think the answer to the question your asking is no.
2006-09-23 07:01:50 · answer #8 · answered by Grev 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well It's possible but well you would end up killing anyone who went near an electrical device powered by such a scheme.
2006-09-30 16:50:14 · answer #9 · answered by grating_pairs 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
technology is not there yet
2006-10-01 03:48:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋