how Internet back in the copper wire days could still transmit data in seconds when Electrons flow through copper at a few metres per second.

345 views

how Internet back in the copper wire days could still transmit data in seconds when Electrons flow through copper at a few metres per second.

In: 0

13 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

The speed of electron drift is a few meters per second yes, but transmission of power and data is more analogous to the speed of sound, than it is wind. Wind speed is the speed of the air to moving from point A to B. Sound like a blast wave from an explosion travels as a pressure wave, much much faster.

With electrons the electrons all push away from each other much like gas molecules in air. Power and signal data travels much much faster than a few m/s and is generally above 50% light speed.

Old superlong cables in the days of telegraphs -did- have issues with data rate because of signal propagation issues. High capacitance wires, leakage into the environment, low drive power, no inline repeaters, etc. But those issues had been mostly solved by the time we had actual telephones.

You are viewing 1 out of 13 answers, click here to view all answers.