[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

Re: Isotropic Capacitance

Tesla List wrote:
> 
> >From nikki-at-fastlane-dot-netSun May 26 11:24:20 1996
> Date: Sat, 25 May 1996 18:40:28 -0500 (CDT)
> From: Bert Pool <nikki-at-fastlane-dot-net>
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: Re: Isotropic Capacitance
> 
> At 12:02 PM 5/25/96 -0600, you wrote:
> >>From brzozoww-at-rchland.vnet.ibm-dot-comSat May 25 11:56:06 1996
> >Date: Fri, 24 May 1996 15:54:18 -0400 (EST)
> >From: Wesley Brzozowski <brzozoww-at-rchland.vnet.ibm-dot-com>
> >To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> >Subject: Isotropic Capacitance
> >
> > Richard Hull <hullr-at-whitlock-dot-com> wrote:
> >
> >> The charge figured relative to a point infinitely distant is a nice
> >> concept.  But, to aquire a charge, anywhere in the real world, work must
> >> be performed in a dielectric (space in this case) by sparating this
> >> charge relative to something (the point far off).  Metals can't have
> >
> >Ahhh... but the point that originally sparked this exchange was your quite
> >correct comment that the formula used for the capacitance of a sphere does
> >not match the measured values. And the reason for this is that the
> >assumptions made to derive the capacitance do not match anything that can
> >be done in the real world. Since most real-world problems don't have any
> >exact, closed-form mathematical solution, (at least that we've yet been
> >able to find) we are forced to either work with approximations or go with
> >computer-based numerical solutions. These are still approximations, but we
> >can usually make them very, very close to what's really measured.
> >
> 
> [big snip]
> 
> The capacitance of an isolated sphere in the real world is affected by close
> (and not so close) objects and the earth itself.  Tesla spent several pages
> (207 - 210) of his Colorado notes examining the capacitance of an elevated
> sphere at different heights above the ground.  You have undoubtedly seen the
> pictures of the Colorado Springs lab with the external tower with the
> hanging sphere - this was the raised capacitive test setup.
> 
> It is interesting to note that tesla spent a lot of time and work making an
> exhaustive study of elevated capcitances, it therefore was of great
> importance to him.  You would think that the higher the sphere was above the
> earth, the lower the capacitance, but if you plot the values Tesla got, then
> you see this is not the case.  There is a trend toward lower capacitances,
> but only at the maximum altitudes.
> 
> Bert  

Bert,

There is a rule of thumb.  Don't over use it, though.  If a body is over 
30 of its maximum dimension distant from any other body, then its 
apparent isotropic capacity is stable and may be considered to be fully 
developed.

Richard Hull, TCBOR