If water is such a terrible conductor, then why won’t your computer work when submerged? And why is it so dangerous to use electrical devices in the bathtub? (Serously, it’s dangerous. Don’t do it.)
Because the type of water that is a lousy conductor is pure h2o, and almost all water used residentially has other substances, such as fluoride, salts, chlorine, sulfur, etc. Or because water is such a terrible conductor that, when the computer is submerged, it intrudes and blocks the normal pathways?? Now i wanna know how many people have tried using a computer while submerged…
Also, even if water as a *substance* is a terrible conductor, the conductivity of an *object* depends both on the subject it’s made out of and on its size and shape…with fatter cross-sections conducting better.
A thin metal wire conducts well because its substance is metal despire its tiny cross-section…immersing a circuit board in water creates vast numbers of new connections made out of a lousy substance, but with really BIG cross-sections.
(And as P!enapple says, water with dissolved salts in it — which is most water you encounter in normal situations — isn’t ALL that terrible a conducting substance. Still way worse than metal, but a lot better than distilled water.)
Interestingly, the infamous hairdryer in the bathtub is probably more dangerous because the bathwater is a bad conductor. If it were a better conductor, less of the electricity would go through you but around you. Still, don't take your appliances into the tub with you even if you bathe in saltwater.
Y’know, it disturbs me a bit that Piscine and her friends were never seen before this strip…or, more importantly, after. I hope they survived to experiment unwisely again.
Pick up your copies of YAFGC Volumes 1 - 5 at our online store. Multi-book bundles and sketch editions available.
Water has terrible electrical conductivity and why don’t they have fins? Okay, this is funny
They are Sea Elves, not merfolk
Salt water, on the other hand, conducts electricity quite well.
Yeah, water is a lousy conductor, salt is a lousy conductor, but combine the two & then you can shout "I have the POWER!"
Plus, when Lightning strikes water it does not go downward, instead spreading out to the sides.
If water is such a terrible conductor, then why won’t your computer work when submerged? And why is it so dangerous to use electrical devices in the bathtub? (Serously, it’s dangerous. Don’t do it.)
Because the type of water that is a lousy conductor is pure h2o, and almost all water used residentially has other substances, such as fluoride, salts, chlorine, sulfur, etc. Or because water is such a terrible conductor that, when the computer is submerged, it intrudes and blocks the normal pathways?? Now i wanna know how many people have tried using a computer while submerged…
Also, even if water as a *substance* is a terrible conductor, the conductivity of an *object* depends both on the subject it’s made out of and on its size and shape…with fatter cross-sections conducting better.
A thin metal wire conducts well because its substance is metal despire its tiny cross-section…immersing a circuit board in water creates vast numbers of new connections made out of a lousy substance, but with really BIG cross-sections.
(And as P!enapple says, water with dissolved salts in it — which is most water you encounter in normal situations — isn’t ALL that terrible a conducting substance. Still way worse than metal, but a lot better than distilled water.)
Interestingly, the infamous hairdryer in the bathtub is probably more dangerous because the bathwater is a bad conductor. If it were a better conductor, less of the electricity would go through you but around you. Still, don't take your appliances into the tub with you even if you bathe in saltwater.
piscine oh my god what a great name XDD
Y’know, it disturbs me a bit that Piscine and her friends were never seen before this strip…or, more importantly, after. I hope they survived to experiment unwisely again.
Cool! Did not know any of that about cross sections or conductivity in water!! Thanks!!