On Jan 30, 12:23*pm, Michael Coslo wrote:
Art Unwin wrote:
On Jan 30, 10:00 am, Michael Coslo wrote:
Warning - dilletente alert! Maybe even worth an embarrassing dolt cringe

This question may have been asked before, but is there a physical
experiment that is good for verifying skin effect?

Initially, It seemed pretty straightforward, but giving some thought to
the matter indicates *it "ain't necessarily so".

I'm assuming that any thick conductor is going to have "skin" to any
where I can put a sensor, so even if I drilled an internal sensor, the
drill tunnel would form a part of the skin.

Giving that some thought, is it possible to make say a ribbed conductor
that resembled a tubular heat sink, would this device allow for more
current flow because of the greater amount of skin exposed compared to a
solid tube?

Just a little thought experiment.

* * * * - 73 de Mike N3LI -

All charges will congregate along the peaks of the ribs so I can't see
how a greater area is generated for utelization !

Is what you are saying then that it is not truly a "skin" effect, which
would have the maximum current riding near the surface, but rather some
sort of effect that has that maximum current getting as far away from
the center of the conductor? In other words the vertical component of
the ribbing would have current flow as if it were at that distance from
the surface of a solid conductor.

Not trying to change th eworld here, just trying to get my head around
the issue. Lot's of things have misnomers as a name.

* * * * - 73 de Mike N3LI -

What I am saying is that the ribs could prevent the flow of eddy
currents which operate as a completed circular circuit. This is how
the detection of fissures in material is found by non destructive
means. If eddy current is not present then radiation cannot occur,
thus all is not known about radiation !
Frankly I would like to know of another situation where energy flows
in the absence of a completed circuit which would provide more insight
of the circuitry of a fractional wavelength antenna, as the existing
explanation appears to be a bit to glib
Regards
Art