2007-12-23 20:24:23 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
lightning is a form of Electricity...
Likewise can we transmit from one location to another?
Can we transmit electricity in space?
2007-12-23 20:46:34 · update #1
Air is a very bad conductor(i.e. it is an insulator).
But I guess the main confusion that you are having is because you are taking electricity as a thing or entity or something like that, a very common mistake, if you understand little bit of concept of it you will never have a confusion.
Ok, electricity is nothing but flow of electrons in a body. Mind you electrons are already present in all bodies, but the important point is that not all things (molecules or atoms) have free valence electrons(I hope you know how an atom looks like roughly, its like our solar system with heavy nucleus in centre like sun and smaller electrons like planets rotating around it in orbits).
When you give enough energy to them they start jumping thru conductor, which we know as potential difference across its two ends. To understand a very good metaphor is to compare it with water flow say from a tank at higher position in your home to a lower position on ground floor say a bucket. It will ony flow if water is at higher position and you have correct pipeline which is the conductor in case of electricity.
NOW IMPORTANT POINT: ELECTRICITY IS "NOT" THE WATER, IT IS THE FLOW OF WATER. SO we see now that Electrons are the counterpart of Water while Electricity is the flow of water. Now things might seem little clearer so a good conductor is like a good pipeline with no blockages, and an insulator (or bad conductor) is like pipeline totally choked. But now Lightining does apparently even through air or even wood(which of course gets burnt because of its non-conductance) but the Lightining bolt has can be reach upto 100 of terrawatt; with like 100 kA current and temparature can reach about 55000 F temperature at which soil get vitrified(fuse to become glass/ceramic) , which is almost like a massive Flood in the Water Pipeline scenario so it doesn't matter if you have a good pipeline or no pipeline, cause it is going to flow and fill the bucket and everything else too. :)
Hope I was able to conduct few electrons to you.. ;))
PeaceV
2007-12-23 22:41:16 · answer #1 · answered by Proof Reader 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we can transmit electricity through air. Scientists have demonstrated a simple way to transmit electricity through the air, raising the prospect of a world of wireless gadgets.
In the experiment, researchers lit a 60-watt light bulb from an energy source 7ft away using no power leads.
2007-12-23 20:30:10 · answer #2 · answered by Mukund R 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check out Necoli Tesla's stuff.
And its not that air doesn't conduct electricity, its more like a matter of efficency and control. Look at lightning for example. It has to be extremely high voltages and you cna't really control it.
2007-12-23 20:28:29 · answer #3 · answered by Andrew 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes 1) Through a spark - very high p.d. ionises the air, as in lightning. 2) Via an electromagnetic radio wave. This produces a tiny current in the receiving antenna. 3) By electromagnetic induction, as in a transformer.
2016-05-26 02:39:09 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because air doesn't conduct electricity
2007-12-23 20:27:50 · answer #5 · answered by Engineer Dave 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
you can, but it is not as efficient as say cable.
Have you ever heard of lightning?
2007-12-23 20:30:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
we can [i.e. lightning], it just isn't as efficient as a conductive metal.
2007-12-23 20:28:41 · answer #7 · answered by 4Brain 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We cant coz' air is not a conductor...and if ever everybody would be electricuted....
2007-12-23 20:29:53 · answer #8 · answered by Synchronizers 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋