Signal Jumping??


Does the signal really jump from strand to strand in a multi-stranded wire, or does it remain in each one simultaneously?
koestner
For DC current or low frequency current, then "no", but I wouldn’t use the word "jump". It’s a little bit complicated than that. These strands of wire are shorted together, so if there is current on one strand, then there will be current on other strands as well.

For high frequency current, when two strand of wire touching each other, there will be some small air gaps in between them. These air gap form a equivalent capacitance coupling, so there might be some small portion of the current that "jumps" through these air gaps.

Again, it’s difficult to describe using everyday language to characterize electrical current.