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Science

hedgehog

(36,286 posts) Wed Oct 23, 2013, 03:25 PM Oct 2013

A question about EMP - [View all]

I think I understand how a pulse might disrupt an active alternating current - I'm thinking that the frequency is disrupted. I'm not so sure about a DC current.

I can follow that some components might be fried by a power surge.

But if a wire will carry a current today, is exposed to an EMP, what keeps it from carrying a wire tomorrow? How would an EMP cause every chemical battery exposed to completely discharge?

I can see a grid being knocked out, but what keeps it from being brought back up?

8 replies

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A question about EMP - [View all] hedgehog Oct 2013 OP

the wire itself would be fine ProdigalJunkMail Oct 2013 #1

The problem is current generated by the EMP jeff47 Oct 2013 #2

ok - so would that mean , for example, that if the wires on a motor are thick enough, hedgehog Oct 2013 #3

Depends if the EMP hits the devices or not. jeff47 Oct 2013 #4

It would melt high tension cables about an inch thick Xipe Totec Oct 2013 #5

thank you all for taking the time to explain this to me! hedgehog Oct 2013 #6

If by any chance you should survive, catch the latest news on your Atwater Kent. dimbear Oct 2013 #7

P = I^2 * R bananas Oct 2013 #8