On: Building a vacuum tube computer

[NikolaNovak]

Thanks for all the replies, that is fascinating; I intuitively understand that for A/C, it all kinda sorta averages out without much movement. But for DC, I assumed electrons actually moved at a "meaningful and impressive velocity on human scales" - not as fast as the electricity propagation, I appreciate and understand the analogies and they make sense - but I imagined it'd still be way, way faster than "centimeters per hour" :O

It astonishes me that much energy can be transmitted / work can be done, with so little actual movement of electrons... I'll follow the links / articles suggested and see what I can gleam; thanks all! :)

[jonsen → NikolaNovak]

In a lightning the electrons move a considerable distance, but even there the speed is relatively low.

Also astonishing is to calculate the weight, or mass, of the electrons participating in a lightning discharge. So little mass, so much energy.