how fast does electricity travel?

[gregulator]

well i have yet to find a good answer to this question and was wondering if anyone knew or had a proof, lab report, or link.

 

[DRGrim]

At the speed of light. It's something like 186,000 miles per second, right?

 

[Viper0329]

yeah...something like that

but it is the speed of light

 

[Russ]

I think it would travel at the speed of light if it were not for the latency caused by the transmission medium.

Russ, NCNE

 

[mithrandir2001]

Actually it is not quite as fast as the speed of light, but that's the right idea.

 

[N8Magic]

Doesn't the resistance of the transport medium slow down the flow of electricity?

ie. gold vs. copper?

 

[brxndxn]

It depends on the resistence... No resistence, then speed of light. Electricity traveling through gold is much faster than electricity traveling through salt water. (I think)

 

[BigToque]

It goes the speed of light, minus whatever the resistance of the wire its going through.

 

[BigToque]

Question:

If a bolt of lightning hits water, does the water splash?

 

[JohnnyKnoxville]

It depends on if its a stick or an automatic

 

[gregulator]

well thats what i thought, but i couldn't find any lab reports on the actual speed vs. theoretical. thanks

 

[Logix]

Some articles on the matter:

Ask A Scientist: Speed of Electricity - from the U.S. Department of Energy, a really brief answer.
The Speed Of Electricity - a slightly more in-depth response.

Enjoy.

 

[ProjectPat]

really, really fast

 

[etech]

Hmmm, what about an AC voltage then?

 

[Sohcan]

The actual velocity of the individual electrons as they travel down a wire is on the order of 1 millimeter/sec...this slow drift velocity is the result of the numerous collisions that occur between the electrons and the atoms of the metal. Because of these collisions, an electron will travel in a "zigzag" path in the wire, changing direction each time it encounters an atom. But because of the voltage present, the "average" speed will be in the direction of the voltage, albeit very slowly.

The speed of an electric pulse is obviously much faster, and is the result of the voltage being applied down the wire. Thus, when you flip a switch on a light, the electric pulse travels on the order of 1/3 the speed of light, depending on the wire's resistance.

 

[N8Magic]

<< If a bolt of lightning hits water, does the water splash? >>



Yes.

When the bolt of lightning hits the water, it will superheat the water, causing it to vaporize. As this vaporized water moves away from the impact zone, the other water will be pushed out of the way, creating the effect of a splash.

 

[charrison]

for most calculations 2/3 of the speed of light is accurate enough.