kontiki
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Kontiki
There is a really goofball off topic dialog on electricity in the Maintenance Nightmare thread. I thought i might post a few words about it here.
I contend no one knows what electricity really is. We can know the sensations of various types of shocks. And we define it to make it work for us or to make math and logic calculations for us using models and various abstractions.
Most people and technicians get by using circuit theory models (Ohms law, Kirchoff rules) for both DC and a lot of AC calculations.
The most general set of equations for definition of electricity are known as Maxwells Equations. They are overkill for understanding DC cockpit lights, but are generally considered applicable for all places electricity is used. They just involve more math than you need to get to a useful answer.
Maxwells equations can be found here ->
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/maxeq.html#c1
These equations work to define what happens in a resistive DC circuit, and for understanding microwave radiation through radome material and the atmosphere.
The Circuit theory approach is generally considered sufficient for modeling a circuit where the longest conductor is much shorter than the shortest wavelength.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/ohmlaw.html#c1
For all practical purposes 400Hz is not distinguishable from DC because the wavelength is so long, at least from an RF standpoint.
Thanks to -> http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html
Rev A - Fixed Links
Rev B - Added link to Hyperphysics site
I contend no one knows what electricity really is. We can know the sensations of various types of shocks. And we define it to make it work for us or to make math and logic calculations for us using models and various abstractions.
Most people and technicians get by using circuit theory models (Ohms law, Kirchoff rules) for both DC and a lot of AC calculations.
The most general set of equations for definition of electricity are known as Maxwells Equations. They are overkill for understanding DC cockpit lights, but are generally considered applicable for all places electricity is used. They just involve more math than you need to get to a useful answer.
Maxwells equations can be found here ->
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/maxeq.html#c1
These equations work to define what happens in a resistive DC circuit, and for understanding microwave radiation through radome material and the atmosphere.
The Circuit theory approach is generally considered sufficient for modeling a circuit where the longest conductor is much shorter than the shortest wavelength.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/ohmlaw.html#c1
For all practical purposes 400Hz is not distinguishable from DC because the wavelength is so long, at least from an RF standpoint.
Thanks to -> http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html
Rev A - Fixed Links
Rev B - Added link to Hyperphysics site
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