Art, once upon a time, a long time ago, I first heard the word, or concept,
called "skin effect". It seems that somehow, current at RF tends to stay near
the surface of the conductor, going less deep into the conductor as frequency
rises. In fact, at frequencies we 'unwashed' hams use routinely, the current
hardly penetrates the conductor at all. Consequently, if the conductor is the
radiating element of an antenna, and it is a solid, there is no way the current
can enter the center of the conductor and travel through the mass of the
conductor.

I also heard a long time ago the word "reflection." Seems that many savants
discovered that when the current reaches the end of the radiator (conductor) it
sees an open circuit, which the savants say causes the current to reverse its
direction and flow back along the "surface" of the conductor. I also seem to
recall some of those savants say that the combination of the forward current and
the reflected current esstablishes what they call a 'standing wave.' Art, are
you at all familiar with what I'm saying here? These savants have been able to
prove that a standing wave exists on the radiator by moving a fluorescent bulb
along the radiator for all to see.

So what I'm asking you to explain, Art, is how could this proven standing wave
exist on the radiator if the current reaching end of the radiator now goes into
the center of the radiator to propagate only through the mass of the conductor,
and seeing only the resistance of the conductor?

You've told us this happens, Art, but you haven't explained why. Now Art, please
explain this concept to all of us unwashed hams.

Walt, W2DU