• iocase@lemmy.zip
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    9 hours ago

    Imma break your brain

    The energy in a circuit isn’t contained in the copper or the electrons, but in the electromagnetic field that is applying a force to move those electrons

    In a printed circuit, the energy in a circuit technically exists between the copper leads (signal and return path) and not the copper itself. It’s in the fiberglass of a board.

    We experience the symptoms of an electromagnetic field via copper a lot. It’s where our intuition comes from and where rule of thumb laws like ohms law or the power law come from. However, they are lying to you in order to make it more understandable.

    This is also why radio works. You’re just making the signal conductor one antenna, and the return path the receiver antenna suuuuper far away.

    “There are two types of electrical engineers in this world: those that design antennas by accident, and those that do it on purpose.”