In superconductivity, does the diameter of the cable affect the current?
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2
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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 ?
electricity electric-current electrical-resistance superconductivity
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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 ?
electricity electric-current electrical-resistance superconductivity
add a comment |
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 ?
electricity electric-current electrical-resistance superconductivity
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 ?
electricity electric-current electrical-resistance superconductivity
electricity electric-current electrical-resistance superconductivity
asked Nov 10 at 9:23
physicsnewbie
23728
23728
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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.
@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
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up vote
2
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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.
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
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.
@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
add a comment |
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.
@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
add a comment |
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.
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.
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
add a comment |
@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
add a comment |
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.
add a comment |
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.
add a comment |
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.
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.
answered Nov 10 at 13:11
akhmeteli
17.5k21740
17.5k21740
add a comment |
add a comment |
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