Comments on: Can a vacuum become a conductor? OR The physics of electron flow http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com/2009/06/11/can-a-vacuum-become-a-conductor-or-the-physics-of-electron-flow/ explorations and inspirations... in how we learn science Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:52:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Glenn travis http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com/2009/06/11/can-a-vacuum-become-a-conductor-or-the-physics-of-electron-flow/comment-page-1/#comment-3754 Glenn travis Tue, 07 Dec 2010 05:25:14 +0000 http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com/?p=849#comment-3754 Just a thought. Get on the wayback machine, say before all this solid state stuff Does anyone remember electric circuits or even computers that used Vacuum Tubes? Diodes, Triodes and even moreodes? High voltage, red hot heater/cathodes and anode plates? Those "cooked off" electrons zoomed right across that vacuum. So yes I guess in a way, a vacuum is a conductor. Of course there are wires on either end of the tube. Then what about lightning? It does not need a conductor, and no the air ain't one. Been zapped by static electricity, seen the arc, and not touching anything? The real absolute answer is A. If a potential can be created, and it is great enough, electrons will flow. Just a thought.
Get on the wayback machine, say before all this solid state stuff
Does anyone remember electric circuits or even computers that used Vacuum Tubes? Diodes, Triodes and even moreodes?
High voltage, red hot heater/cathodes and anode plates? Those “cooked off” electrons zoomed right across that vacuum.
So yes I guess in a way, a vacuum is a conductor. Of course there are wires on either end of the tube.
Then what about lightning? It does not need a conductor, and no the air ain’t one.
Been zapped by static electricity, seen the arc, and not touching anything?
The real absolute answer is A. If a potential can be created, and it is great enough, electrons will flow.

]]> By: rebeca http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com/2009/06/11/can-a-vacuum-become-a-conductor-or-the-physics-of-electron-flow/comment-page-1/#comment-3744 rebeca Fri, 03 Dec 2010 02:20:06 +0000 http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com/?p=849#comment-3744 I really want to become more intrested in science and get straight A's in it. I really need some help!!!!!!! I really want to become more intrested in science and get straight A’s in it. I really need some help!!!!!!!

]]> By: Charles http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com/2009/06/11/can-a-vacuum-become-a-conductor-or-the-physics-of-electron-flow/comment-page-1/#comment-3600 Charles Thu, 08 Jul 2010 05:02:11 +0000 http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com/?p=849#comment-3600 This is an interesting experiment of vacuum tube. I believe it can be used as an conductor. But not a replacement, Just IMHO. This is an interesting experiment of vacuum tube. I believe it can be used as an conductor. But not a replacement, Just IMHO.

]]> By: sciencegeekgirl http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com/2009/06/11/can-a-vacuum-become-a-conductor-or-the-physics-of-electron-flow/comment-page-1/#comment-1594 sciencegeekgirl Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:23:40 +0000 http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com/?p=849#comment-1594 I can't believe the depth of conversation that was generated by this post! I don't think there can be a final arbitration of the answer, since some of it depends upon semantics (is a vacuum still a vacuum if it has electrons in it?), to name just one persnickety bit. For myself, I still believe the answer is C, if we allow ourselves to define a vacuum as a conductor. I can’t believe the depth of conversation that was generated by this post!

I don’t think there can be a final arbitration of the answer, since some of it depends upon semantics (is a vacuum still a vacuum if it has electrons in it?), to name just one persnickety bit.

For myself, I still believe the answer is C, if we allow ourselves to define a vacuum as a conductor.

]]> By: Stich http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com/2009/06/11/can-a-vacuum-become-a-conductor-or-the-physics-of-electron-flow/comment-page-1/#comment-1580 Stich Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:35:03 +0000 http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com/?p=849#comment-1580 Well put, Tom. That's what I was getting at. Well put, Tom. That’s what I was getting at.

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