Propeller Head Plaza Technical and scientific discussion of amps, cables and other topics.

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Re: Electrical misconceptions?

Posted by jneutron (A) on August 24, 2005 at 07:22:58

In Reply to: Electrical misconceptions? posted by tesla on August 23, 2005 at 21:40:22:

25 years ago, I would have laughed hysterically at some of his concepts..now, it almost makes me want to cry..he laments how the kids are taught, but wants to replace reality with what he wants it to be.

At first, a lot if it was correct. Then more and more starts to deviate..I did not make it through the whole thing, deciding to instead do something worthwhile..

Here's some things I culled out..note where I stopped..

""Electrons are easily removed from atoms, while protons USUALLY are stuck to other protons,""

Of course, what is the most abundent element in the universe..hydrogen..one proton..ain't stuck to nuttin.

""A moving electron does not carry energy along,""

Hmmm, it seems that electron beams are impossible then. I guess the International Linear Collider, with it's 1.5 megawatt e-beam, doesn't have to worry about the energy deposition at the end of the 15 mile accelerator..that'll be a relief, and they can layoff the physicists responsible for the beam dump, the oscillating kickers, and the de-focussing quads...

Course, X-ray tubes are out, 6L6's and 12AX7's are out, microwave ovens are out...hmmm, stone age it is..

""For example, when you get a shock, no electrons flow through your body""

Guess he never touched a Van de Graf generator??

""particles are not fields""

Guess that trashes quantum physics and superconductivity....and just when it was startin ta show promise..

""We should perform an act of painful honesty, and admit that we've been accidentally misleading generation after generation of students""

He is a master of understatement, as well as a master of mis-information.

""The "electron sea" of a metal gives metals their characteristics: most materials will shatter, but metals stay bent because the electrons fill in the gaps""

Holy mackeral...guess we can throw out dislocation theory and binding energies from material science..honestly, I've never heard that particular garbage before, it's new to me..

""When you connect a light bulb to a battery, Electrical Energy moves from the battery to the bulb. This is a one-way flow. The battery loses energy and the bulb gains it. Then the energy received by the bulb is turned into light. If this phenomenon is examined in great detail, we find that electrical energy is composed of waves travelling along columns of electrons inside the wires, and the energy itself is contained in electromagnetic fields connected to those electrons. We find that it travels as wave energy, that it exists only outside of the wires, and most importantly, that it TRAVELS ONE WAY ALONG BOTH WIRES on its trip from the battery to the bulb. The electrical energy did not travel in a circle. So, when you plug a lamp into a wall socket, you shouldn't imagine that the AC energy is a mysterious invisible entity traveling back and forth inside the wires. Instead you should think of AC energy as a mysterious invisible flow that comes out of the outlet, runs along the outside of BOTH wires, then dives into the filament of the light bulb. Your electric company is sending out long "sausages" of electrical energy, the wires are guiding them, and your appliances are absorbing them.""

This is the point where I, years ago, would be laughing hysterically on the floor..now, I can only shake my head.

This guy has some really big chip on his shoulder. He seems to be a layman, attempting to set the record straight..in the process, making up some new and wondrously incorrect stuff..

I think his heart is in the right place, as I have for years, been lamenting the level of science education I see when I give tours and talks to schoolkids, the general public, undergrads, graduate students, and post docs..there is so much missing in their education.

His intent seems well placed, but the execution is terribly filled with wrong information.

Cheers, John

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