Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Jesse · 06-11-2003, 04:18 PM

Even if silver is the most conductive of all pure elements, does that necessarily mean it's the most conductive of all substances, including things like alloys, nanomaterials, etc.?

Also, I would think the statement that silver is the most conductive element can't be true for all temperatures, since other elements form superconductors at very low temps...is there a certain range of temps for which it is the most conductive? Do other factors like pressure affect conductivity as well?

Mageth · 06-11-2003, 04:25 PM

Good points, jesse. I don't really know the answers, though (not really my area of expertise). I was assuming the numbers and statements made were for "normal" temps and pressures.

Asha'man · 06-11-2003, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Craig
That's funny, because those car-audio shops all recommend those super expensive gold components claiming the best conductivity. Next time I'm in there I'll bring that list and ask if I can get silver instead.

Gold may still be a better option, since it is less prone to tarnish. If you get silver, you will have to polish your components regularly.

Wyz_sub10 · 06-12-2003, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Asha'man
Gold may still be a better option, since it is less prone to tarnish. If you get silver, you will have to polish your components regularly.

That is basically the reason, as I understand it. Also, gold won't chip, flake or corrode.

architect · 06-13-2003, 01:21 PM

Please tell me that this woman is not one of your teachers at school!

MortalWombat · 06-13-2003, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Thanks folks. This woman starts talking and asks whats the most conductive substance to electricity. Off the cuff and not really knowing, I said copper. She looked at me like I was a pitiful moron and proceded to tell everybody that it was water.

According to this website, ultrapure water has a conductivity of 0.055 microSiemens/cm.

Which is 0.0000055 Siemens/m

Since pure silver has a conductivity of 6.287E+07 Siemens/m, then silver is about 11 trillion (11 with 12 zeros behind it) times more conductive than pure water.

slh · 06-13-2003, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by architect
Please tell me that this woman is not one of your teachers at school!

No. One Sunday a month, my fiancee has these 'Mind and Metaphysics' new age meetings. Sometimes, a friend of hers has something to talk about and gives a little presentation.

This particular meeting, this woman used this conductivity question to lead off her presentation before going into her whole kinesiology thing.

Jan Haugland · 06-15-2003, 05:33 AM

I have friends who are hifi freaks, and if I've understood the argument correctly, silver is the best conductor, while gold is the best material for plugs since it produces the best contact. It may have something to do with being soft. Since this is easy to measure, I assume that the hifi technicians know what they are doing.

I was persuaded to buy some expensive copper cable, and it clearly improved the sound quality (my then-wife thought I was crazy for using more $$$ on cable than the CD player, but backed down when she heard the result

).

- Jan

...who rants and raves every day at Secular Blasphemy

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06-11-2003, 04:18 PM	#11
Jesse Moderator - Science Discussions Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Providence, RI, USA Posts: 9,908	Even if silver is the most conductive of all pure elements, does that necessarily mean it's the most conductive of all substances, including things like alloys, nanomaterials, etc.? Also, I would think the statement that silver is the most conductive element can't be true for all temperatures, since other elements form superconductors at very low temps...is there a certain range of temps for which it is the most conductive? Do other factors like pressure affect conductivity as well?

06-11-2003, 04:25 PM	#12
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	Good points, jesse. I don't really know the answers, though (not really my area of expertise). I was assuming the numbers and statements made were for "normal" temps and pressures.

06-13-2003, 01:21 PM	#15
architect Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 27	Please tell me that this woman is not one of your teachers at school!

06-15-2003, 05:33 AM	#18
Jan Haugland Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 70	I have friends who are hifi freaks, and if I've understood the argument correctly, silver is the best conductor, while gold is the best material for plugs since it produces the best contact. It may have something to do with being soft. Since this is easy to measure, I assume that the hifi technicians know what they are doing. I was persuaded to buy some expensive copper cable, and it clearly improved the sound quality (my then-wife thought I was crazy for using more $$$ on cable than the CD player, but backed down when she heard the result ). - Jan ...who rants and raves every day at Secular Blasphemy

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