In superconductivity, does the diameter of the cable affect the current?









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In the water tank analogy below, the smaller diameter pipe (B2)
will drain tank A slower than the larger diameter pipe (B1)



We are told that resistance has this same effect on current
the bigger the resistance, the smaller the current



We are also told that superconductors have zero resistance



So using the same water analogy, and connecting two superconducting cables of different diameter to batteries holding the same amount of charge,



Would they both drain the batteries at the same speed, having the same current regardless of the cable diameter ?



enter image description here










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    up vote
    2
    down vote

    favorite












    In the water tank analogy below, the smaller diameter pipe (B2)
    will drain tank A slower than the larger diameter pipe (B1)



    We are told that resistance has this same effect on current
    the bigger the resistance, the smaller the current



    We are also told that superconductors have zero resistance



    So using the same water analogy, and connecting two superconducting cables of different diameter to batteries holding the same amount of charge,



    Would they both drain the batteries at the same speed, having the same current regardless of the cable diameter ?



    enter image description here










    share|cite|improve this question























      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite











      In the water tank analogy below, the smaller diameter pipe (B2)
      will drain tank A slower than the larger diameter pipe (B1)



      We are told that resistance has this same effect on current
      the bigger the resistance, the smaller the current



      We are also told that superconductors have zero resistance



      So using the same water analogy, and connecting two superconducting cables of different diameter to batteries holding the same amount of charge,



      Would they both drain the batteries at the same speed, having the same current regardless of the cable diameter ?



      enter image description here










      share|cite|improve this question













      In the water tank analogy below, the smaller diameter pipe (B2)
      will drain tank A slower than the larger diameter pipe (B1)



      We are told that resistance has this same effect on current
      the bigger the resistance, the smaller the current



      We are also told that superconductors have zero resistance



      So using the same water analogy, and connecting two superconducting cables of different diameter to batteries holding the same amount of charge,



      Would they both drain the batteries at the same speed, having the same current regardless of the cable diameter ?



      enter image description here







      electricity electric-current electrical-resistance superconductivity






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      share|cite|improve this question











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      asked Nov 10 at 9:23









      physicsnewbie

      23728




      23728




















          2 Answers
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          Suppose you replace the water in your tanks with superfluid liquid helium. Now there is no viscous drag so the flow velocity in the pipes is independent of the pipe diameter. This doesn't mean the superfluid flows infinitely fast because the fluid has mass and therefore the flowing fluid has kinetic energy. This kinetic energy has to come from the change in the gravitational potential energy as the fluid flows downwards, so the flow rate is now limited by how much energy gravity supplies.



          If we switch to an electrical circuit the analogy carries over. Since there is no resistance in a superconductor the diameter of the wire makes no difference. But again this doesn't mean the current will be infinite as there are likely to be other factors that limit it.






          share|cite|improve this answer




















          • @Jhon Rennie So if the liquid in the tanks would be replaced with superfluid liquid helium, both of the tanks would fully drain in an almost identical rate , regardless of the diameter of the pipe(B) ?
            – physicsnewbie
            Nov 10 at 11:58






          • 1




            I would say the diameter of the wire does make difference, as the critical current increases with the diameter.
            – akhmeteli
            Nov 10 at 14:05

















          up vote
          2
          down vote













          There is a critical magnetic field for each superconducting material (if the magnetic field is higher than the critical value, superconductivity disappears), therefore, the current in a superconducting wire is limited, as current creates magnetic field, but the critical current increases with the increase of the wire diameter, so a superconducting wire of a larger diameter can conduct a higher current.






          share|cite|improve this answer




















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            2 Answers
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            active

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            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

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            active

            oldest

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            up vote
            2
            down vote













            Suppose you replace the water in your tanks with superfluid liquid helium. Now there is no viscous drag so the flow velocity in the pipes is independent of the pipe diameter. This doesn't mean the superfluid flows infinitely fast because the fluid has mass and therefore the flowing fluid has kinetic energy. This kinetic energy has to come from the change in the gravitational potential energy as the fluid flows downwards, so the flow rate is now limited by how much energy gravity supplies.



            If we switch to an electrical circuit the analogy carries over. Since there is no resistance in a superconductor the diameter of the wire makes no difference. But again this doesn't mean the current will be infinite as there are likely to be other factors that limit it.






            share|cite|improve this answer




















            • @Jhon Rennie So if the liquid in the tanks would be replaced with superfluid liquid helium, both of the tanks would fully drain in an almost identical rate , regardless of the diameter of the pipe(B) ?
              – physicsnewbie
              Nov 10 at 11:58






            • 1




              I would say the diameter of the wire does make difference, as the critical current increases with the diameter.
              – akhmeteli
              Nov 10 at 14:05














            up vote
            2
            down vote













            Suppose you replace the water in your tanks with superfluid liquid helium. Now there is no viscous drag so the flow velocity in the pipes is independent of the pipe diameter. This doesn't mean the superfluid flows infinitely fast because the fluid has mass and therefore the flowing fluid has kinetic energy. This kinetic energy has to come from the change in the gravitational potential energy as the fluid flows downwards, so the flow rate is now limited by how much energy gravity supplies.



            If we switch to an electrical circuit the analogy carries over. Since there is no resistance in a superconductor the diameter of the wire makes no difference. But again this doesn't mean the current will be infinite as there are likely to be other factors that limit it.






            share|cite|improve this answer




















            • @Jhon Rennie So if the liquid in the tanks would be replaced with superfluid liquid helium, both of the tanks would fully drain in an almost identical rate , regardless of the diameter of the pipe(B) ?
              – physicsnewbie
              Nov 10 at 11:58






            • 1




              I would say the diameter of the wire does make difference, as the critical current increases with the diameter.
              – akhmeteli
              Nov 10 at 14:05












            up vote
            2
            down vote










            up vote
            2
            down vote









            Suppose you replace the water in your tanks with superfluid liquid helium. Now there is no viscous drag so the flow velocity in the pipes is independent of the pipe diameter. This doesn't mean the superfluid flows infinitely fast because the fluid has mass and therefore the flowing fluid has kinetic energy. This kinetic energy has to come from the change in the gravitational potential energy as the fluid flows downwards, so the flow rate is now limited by how much energy gravity supplies.



            If we switch to an electrical circuit the analogy carries over. Since there is no resistance in a superconductor the diameter of the wire makes no difference. But again this doesn't mean the current will be infinite as there are likely to be other factors that limit it.






            share|cite|improve this answer












            Suppose you replace the water in your tanks with superfluid liquid helium. Now there is no viscous drag so the flow velocity in the pipes is independent of the pipe diameter. This doesn't mean the superfluid flows infinitely fast because the fluid has mass and therefore the flowing fluid has kinetic energy. This kinetic energy has to come from the change in the gravitational potential energy as the fluid flows downwards, so the flow rate is now limited by how much energy gravity supplies.



            If we switch to an electrical circuit the analogy carries over. Since there is no resistance in a superconductor the diameter of the wire makes no difference. But again this doesn't mean the current will be infinite as there are likely to be other factors that limit it.







            share|cite|improve this answer












            share|cite|improve this answer



            share|cite|improve this answer










            answered Nov 10 at 11:01









            John Rennie

            269k41524775




            269k41524775











            • @Jhon Rennie So if the liquid in the tanks would be replaced with superfluid liquid helium, both of the tanks would fully drain in an almost identical rate , regardless of the diameter of the pipe(B) ?
              – physicsnewbie
              Nov 10 at 11:58






            • 1




              I would say the diameter of the wire does make difference, as the critical current increases with the diameter.
              – akhmeteli
              Nov 10 at 14:05
















            • @Jhon Rennie So if the liquid in the tanks would be replaced with superfluid liquid helium, both of the tanks would fully drain in an almost identical rate , regardless of the diameter of the pipe(B) ?
              – physicsnewbie
              Nov 10 at 11:58






            • 1




              I would say the diameter of the wire does make difference, as the critical current increases with the diameter.
              – akhmeteli
              Nov 10 at 14:05















            @Jhon Rennie So if the liquid in the tanks would be replaced with superfluid liquid helium, both of the tanks would fully drain in an almost identical rate , regardless of the diameter of the pipe(B) ?
            – physicsnewbie
            Nov 10 at 11:58




            @Jhon Rennie So if the liquid in the tanks would be replaced with superfluid liquid helium, both of the tanks would fully drain in an almost identical rate , regardless of the diameter of the pipe(B) ?
            – physicsnewbie
            Nov 10 at 11:58




            1




            1




            I would say the diameter of the wire does make difference, as the critical current increases with the diameter.
            – akhmeteli
            Nov 10 at 14:05




            I would say the diameter of the wire does make difference, as the critical current increases with the diameter.
            – akhmeteli
            Nov 10 at 14:05










            up vote
            2
            down vote













            There is a critical magnetic field for each superconducting material (if the magnetic field is higher than the critical value, superconductivity disappears), therefore, the current in a superconducting wire is limited, as current creates magnetic field, but the critical current increases with the increase of the wire diameter, so a superconducting wire of a larger diameter can conduct a higher current.






            share|cite|improve this answer
























              up vote
              2
              down vote













              There is a critical magnetic field for each superconducting material (if the magnetic field is higher than the critical value, superconductivity disappears), therefore, the current in a superconducting wire is limited, as current creates magnetic field, but the critical current increases with the increase of the wire diameter, so a superconducting wire of a larger diameter can conduct a higher current.






              share|cite|improve this answer






















                up vote
                2
                down vote










                up vote
                2
                down vote









                There is a critical magnetic field for each superconducting material (if the magnetic field is higher than the critical value, superconductivity disappears), therefore, the current in a superconducting wire is limited, as current creates magnetic field, but the critical current increases with the increase of the wire diameter, so a superconducting wire of a larger diameter can conduct a higher current.






                share|cite|improve this answer












                There is a critical magnetic field for each superconducting material (if the magnetic field is higher than the critical value, superconductivity disappears), therefore, the current in a superconducting wire is limited, as current creates magnetic field, but the critical current increases with the increase of the wire diameter, so a superconducting wire of a larger diameter can conduct a higher current.







                share|cite|improve this answer












                share|cite|improve this answer



                share|cite|improve this answer










                answered Nov 10 at 13:11









                akhmeteli

                17.5k21740




                17.5k21740



























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