An electricity question

Discussion in 'General Science & Technology' started by qfrontier, Aug 14, 2003.

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  1. qfrontier Captain Of Starship Registered Senior Member

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    I am just learning electricity and while I was reading a book on it, a question came to head...


    If ampere is the rate of current flow, wouldn't the rate be different at certain points of a closed circuit if there are resistance/resistors? Since wouldn't the current be travelling at a much faster rate before it reaches the resistance/resistor and after?
     
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  3. Pete It's not rocket surgery Registered Senior Member

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    Current (amps) is the rate of charge flow. This rate is constant around a single closed circuit, but the electric potential drops across resistors.

    Here's an analogy that is sometimes useful (but don't take it too far - it has limits): If charge is water, then a circuit is water in a closed pipe. Current is the flow rate and voltage is the pressure. A battery is a pump - it adds pressure. A resistor is a mill or a generator - it reduces pressure.

    Because water is effectively incompressible, the flow of water around the circuit must be the same at all points.
     
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  5. empennage Soccer King Registered Senior Member

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    So is the city of New York like a dam then??

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  7. Pete It's not rocket surgery Registered Senior Member

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    More like a blocked toilet, maybe?

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  8. qfrontier Captain Of Starship Registered Senior Member

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    Thx Pete
     
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