Can a power cord increase the resolution of an Class D (SMPS) amp by more than 5% ?

azbrd
geoffkait

You have lost us with this quote!

geoffkait “Electrons are only charge carriers. The signal, the thing traveling through wire at super high speed, is photons. Pop quiz: do photons have mass? Maybe you should get your money back from the high school you went to, with your friends.”

How in the world does a particle of light ie a photon, have anything to do with a electircal wire?? How would a particle of light move on a wire??

>>>>>>See, that’s the value of a college education. Knowing that photons travel through wire. You’re welcome in advance.

Do me a favor, go up to your local Home Depot and visit the wire department and ask them for some "directional" wire for your 15 or 20 amp circuit, see what they say??

>>>>Whatever.

geoffkait

Share with us the physics of how a photon, a particle of light transfers on a wire medium?  Also, please share with us the college that taught you this amazing fact of physics!

To answer this question, photons are the energy-packets that carry the light energy. Beams of light are made up of photons

Although photons are most commonly thought of in the context of light waves, which are a form of electromagnetic wave, they comprise all forms of electromagnetic waves. As stated in the Wikipedia writeup on "Electromagnetic Radiation":

In physics, electromagnetic radiation (EM radiation or EMR) refers to the waves (or their quanta, photons) of the electromagnetic field, propagating (radiating) through space-time, carrying electromagnetic radiant energy. It includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, (visible) light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.

However, in contrast to assertions Geoff has made in some past threads, in the case of electrical signals being conducted via wires the electromagnetic waves which convey the energy of those signals from source to destination, and which are comprised of photons, and which propagate at a substantial fraction of the speed of light in a vacuum (in contrast to the vastly slower movement of electrons), DO NOT travel within the conductors. They travel primarily within the dielectric (i.e., the insulating material) surrounding the conductors.

A consequence of that is that the propagation velocity of signals being conducted by various cables depends mainly on the "dielectric constant" (aka "relative permittivity") of the insulation that is used in the particular cable, the variation typically being within a range of 50% to 95% or so of the speed of light in a vacuum. As stated in the Wikipedia writeup on "Velocity Factor":

In electrical cables, the velocity factor mainly depends on the insulating material ....

VF equals the reciprocal of the square root of the dielectric constant (relative permittivity) ... of the material through which the signal passes.

Regards,
-- Al

almarg
Although photons are most commonly thought of in the context of light waves, which are a form of electromagnetic wave, they comprise all forms of electromagnetic waves. As stated in the Wikipedia writeup on "Electromagnetic Radiation":

In physics, electromagnetic radiation (EM radiation or EMR) refers to the waves (or their quanta, photons) of the electromagnetic field, propagating (radiating) through space-time, carrying electromagnetic radiant energy. It includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, (visible) light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.

However, in contrast to assertions Geoff has made in some past threads, in the case of electrical signals being conducted via wires the electromagnetic waves which convey the energy of those signals from source to destination, and which are comprised of photons, and which propagate at a substantial fraction of the speed of light in a vacuum (in contrast to the vastly slower movement of electrons), DO NOT travel within the conductors. They travel primarily within the dielectric (i.e., the insulating material) surrounding the conductors.

A consequence of that is that the propagation velocity of signals being conducted by various cables depends mainly on the "dielectric constant" (aka "relative permittivity") of the insulation that is used in the particular cable, the variation typically being within a range of 50% to 95% or so of the speed of light in a vacuum. As stated in the Wikipedia writeup on "Velocity Factor":

In electrical cables, the velocity factor mainly depends on the insulating material ....

VF equals the reciprocal of the square root of the dielectric constant (relative permittivity) ... of the material through which the signal passes.

..........................................

>>>>The problem I have with the thrust of Al’s post is that he seems to be making the argument that the audio signal - I.e., the electromagnetic wave, the photons - is independent of the copper conductor and only depends on the dielectric characteristics. If that were true then the sound would not (rpt not) be subject to the conductor variables of metal purity, type of metal, type of crystal structure (e.g., single crystal, long grain), diameter of conductor, cable geometry, cryogenics, and direction of the wire.

It is debatable how much of the electromagnetic wave travels outside the wire and how much inside fhe wire. Is it 80/20? 50/50? It cannot be argued that the physical characteristics of the metal conductor do not (rpt not) influence the photons traveling down the cable, which is what Al seems to be arguing.

Also, Al seems to be hedging his bet bet when he states the signal DOES NOT travel within the conductor, then immediately says it travels primarily outside the conductor.

Pop Quiz - do photons have mass?

Addendum: this thread concerns power cords so it should be pointed out that there is no “audio signal” involved. Which begs the question what is the “signal” traveling down the power cord? Is it also an electromagnetic wave, like the “audio signal,” or is it something else? Does it also travel primarily outside the conductor? Talk among yourselves. Smoke if ya got em.