Specifically, what components of an electrical system would be damaged or destroyed by an EMP? Transistors? Capacitors? Would an alternator work? How about a battery? A lightbulb? An LED? Transformers? Would copper wiring still be useable? A spark plug? I know a computer would be toast (barring a Faraday cage). But what would it take to make a car run again?
2007-02-02 13:57:32 · 5 answers · asked by Lokishadow 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Okay, I appreciate the responses thus far, but everyone is missing a good deal of the question. SPECIFICALLY, what would burn out? Light bulbs, yes or no? LED's yes or no? What, SPECIFICALLY, would NOT burn out if a foreign power detonated a 20,000 megaton wardhead 400 kilometers above the epicenter of the US?
2007-02-10 03:15:13 · update #1
The aforementioned voltage spike causes an electrical arc between the fine wires you would find in an IC, on a PCB or in an ignition coil. The wires are burned where the arcing occurs, and that's what disables the circuit. I don't know if the windings in a starter or alternator are small enough wire to cause a problem, but I doubt it. Normal wiring would not be affected.
2007-02-06 14:54:39 · answer #1 · answered by somniferous_persiflage 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i do not trust the conspiracy theories so I wont contact upon that. you're making some sturdy factors yet so do countless the human beings who disagree with you. If everyone may end and imagine they could see that both activities had a hand in starting to be each and each and every of those issues and then they warfare to pretend they'd no longer some thing to do with it . This ingredient of nicely someone on your celebration did an similar ingredient so why are you complaining is getting previous.. we pick a authorities that cares extra about we the human beings than it does about that is activities political skill.
2016-11-24 20:15:25 · answer #2 · answered by rensing 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If one was to experience a EMP of sufficient magnitude
and one wanted to still be able to utilize mechanical transport
you would look for a a vehicle that had a air driven starter with
a diesel engine that did not have a solenoid fuel shut off and a manual transmission
wires would probally be ok sensitive unshielded ic probally trashed
spark plugs OK with todays electronics I dont belive a cars computer would not be toasted
2007-02-10 02:11:21 · answer #3 · answered by jerry34461us 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
a new alternator,and maybe a new coil,Emp's unless detonated very close,have very little effect on batterys,what they do is overload circuitry,while in use,creating a voltage spike that fry's the components,if you were to turn off a car before an EMP strike,wait for the magnetic wave to pass,you could start the car and drive away
2007-02-02 14:05:24 · answer #4 · answered by stygianwolfe 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Since most cars (for the past 30 years and more) are dependent on their computers, you would have to replace that also.
A car from the 60's or early 70's might run okay.
2007-02-02 14:27:59 · answer #5 · answered by morningfoxnorth 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋