Re: Whats wrong with this CIRCUIT (was: Tethered Satellites)

Article View: sci.physics

Article #872

#872

From: Richard A. Schumacher
Date: Fri, 07 Aug 1992 22:48

14 lines
1503 bytes

>)If the tether has a return line for the power, won't Earth's magnetic
>)field induce a current in that line too?  If so, then any return
>)current would be negated by this induction.  So how's this
>)thing supposed to work?

> [description of plasma contacts at both ends of tether to complete the
> circuit]

Bonus question: suppose that the tether were a coaxial cable, with shield
and inner conductor shorted together at the far end. If the outer
shield were superconducting, it would expel magnetic fields, yet the
Earth's field would still induce a voltage in it (5 kV for a 20 km tether,
more or less). Could the center conductor then be used as the return line,
removing the need for plasma contacts at either end? Why or why not?

Technical Details

Message-ID: <schumach.713227701@convex.convex.com>

Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!sparky!uunet!europa.asd.contel.com!darwin.sura.net!convex!schumach

References: <l7ukasINNaem@pollux.usc.edu> <1992Aug7.002938.7413@lmpsbbs.comm.mot.com>

Show Full Headers

Complete Article Headers

Newsgroups: sci.physics
Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!sparky!uunet!europa.asd.contel.com!darwin.sura.net!convex!schumach
From: schumach@convex.com (Richard A. Schumacher)
Subject: Re: Whats wrong with this CIRCUIT (was: Tethered Satellites)
Message-ID: <schumach.713227701@convex.convex.com>
Sender: usenet@convex.com (news access account)
Nntp-Posting-Host: starman.convex.com
Organization: CONVEX Computer Corporation, Richardson, Tx., USA
References: <l7ukasINNaem@pollux.usc.edu> <1992Aug7.002938.7413@lmpsbbs.comm.mot.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Aug 1992 22:48:21 GMT
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.
Lines: 15

Reply to Parent Message