the Earth is a bad conductor.
So that is why safety codes everywhere require that we drive metal stakes into the ground and connect our electrical systems to them? And that is why lightning bolts seek the earth?
Dirt is a shitty conductor
Ah yes, that's a much better statement. --but the ions in solution with water in the dirt can carry some current quite readily. And the metals that are considerered good conductors are all sourced from the earth aren't they? The Earth's core is believed to be primarily of iron and nickel alloy, responsible for maintaining its magnetic field. My point was that it is a gross and inaccurate overgeneralization to state flatly that the earth is a bad conductor.
It is well-known that you can receive an electric shock by standing on the ground and touching a surface which is at a different potential, such as an improperly ungrounded electrical appliance or a charged livestock fence for example.
--Tesla's ideas no doubt had some flaws, but all theories need to be tested...
Ground sinks lightning strikes. Makes sure the ground matches local ground so there's no potential. Multi-phase systems don't need to carry much current on the ground anyway because the phase loads are balanced (it's like inter-bank transfers, where they go both ways so most cancel out).
Yeah, and I do realize that lightning is a sudden discharge, and comes under the discussion of 'static' electricity. But the earth can and will conduct some amount of current. That's why we ground our electrical systems for safety to match local potential. We also employ GFI devices to detect ground currents and prevent electrical shocks, etc. Yes, multi-phase systems are most often operated completely "above ground." That is yet another discussion. (I am experienced in the field of electricity and electronics). Sorry, I don't get your banking analogy though. Maybe we should start discussing cryptocurrency lol.
His 'standing waves' idea had merit, but the amount of energy needed would have been insane even by today's standards. Plus, there's no way it wouldn't have disrupted plant, animal, and human life with unforeseeable consequences.
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