wrote ...
In sci.physics.electromag, "Szczepan Bia?ek" wrote:


But I was wrong. Apparently the velocity is dependent upon the dialectric
constant of the material surrounding the conductor.

Thre are the two velocities. Velocity of electrons and velocity of the
voltage rise.


So are the electrons packed together more densely at higher voltages?
Just like the gas molecules at higher psi? ISTM that the main difference
between the two models is that gas can be compressed, while liquids
cannot. So can electricity be "compressed" into higher voltage?

Van der Graff does it.
S*

In article
,
Benj wrote:

Seemingly. *So far, nobody here, even on a physics group, can give a quick
easy answer. *Something like "The electrons are each more energetic at
higher voltages. *They move to a higher orbit around the nucleus, and pack
more punch. There are not more electrons, and the electrons do not travel
faster. *Instead, each one has more energy, so fewer of them are needed to
get the same power. *Accordingly, a smaller conductor can be used,
because the fewer electrons need less space."

snip

Electrons, or other carriers, providing conduc-ivity do not reach much
higher energies by increased voltage. The Fermi=Dirac statistics
indicates that electrons can have high energy to start with. The tail of
the energy distribution is slightly extended toward higher energy Once
the electron's energy exceeds a threshold, it will excite lattice
vibration (phonons). That is the main source of resistance. Thus, as the
voltage across the conductor increases, electron gain their threshold
energy in a shorter distance.


Bill