|
 |
| |
Question
Do wires degenerate when electric current is passed through them? I mean, do they lose
matter after continued use?
Asked by:
Creative Genius
Answer
Wires made from metals all conduct electric current by the motion of electrons.
Electrons move in (or out) of one end of a wire, and an equal number move out (or
in) the other end. This balance is maintained by extremely powerful electric
forces. No net amount of matter is ever transferred when current flows.
Two effects may occur during high current flow: 1) the wire may become overheated
to the point that surface oxidation or even evaporation may take place, 2) at the
connection points at each end of the wire, especially if the terminations are of a
different type of metal than the wire, some atoms may migrate into or out of the
wire.
Under normal current flow, there is no significant loss of matter in a wire. Only
in the extreme case of overheating will the wire be degraded or even destroyed by
melting.
The tungsten filament of an incandescent light is an example of a wire under
extreme conditions. Eventually all filaments will fail due to the high temperature
of operation. If the bulb is cracked, the filament will be exposed to oxygen and
immediately be oxidized or 'burn out.'
Answered by:
S. Wilber, President, ComScire - Quantum World Corporation
|
|
