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Re: Capacitor charge, were is it?

Tesla List wrote:
> 
> >From DavidF4797-at-aol-dot-comSat Oct 26 23:30:53 1996
> Date: Sat, 26 Oct 1996 10:22:11 -0400
> From: DavidF4797-at-aol-dot-com
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: Re: Capacitor charge, were is it?
> 
> In a message dated 96-10-26 00:57:59 EDT, you write:
> 
> <snip>
> << If this is true we could not have a capacitor with a charge that has no
>  dielectric (vacuum).
>  We can, however, and the charge must be held on the plates.  >>
> <snip>
> 
> Here  Here!  I always thought that the charge was held on the plates but was
> influenced by the dielectric.... Interesting question.  Somehow I think you'r
> right.
> 
> - DavidF -


David, 

The vacuum of distant intergalactic space is a perfect dielectric!  It is 
the interfacial point between conductors and dielectrics which make 
charging possible.  The charge, itself, always resides in the dielctric 
material.  The plates just conduct it to the dielectic where work is done 
and carry it away to another point in a metallic circuit where work is 
also done.

The idea that there are actually a quantity of electrons stuffed on a 
metal plate is pretty stupid and somewhat niave.  Have you ever brought 
the back of your arm up to a slab of metal WITH NO POWER SOURCE 
ATTACHED and felt the hairs stand on end? ( I THINK NOT!)  What about a 
piece of teflon or styrofoam?  (ALL THE TIME)  Where is the REAL charge 
retained?  (the dielectric).

The isotropic capacitor would seemingly give you doubting Thomases all 
the ammunition you need to blow me out of the water, but you haven't 
mentioned it yet!  Well, here goes. 

 A metallic ball in free space has capacitance!  No other plate is 
needed.  Yes, charges can be transfered and built up on the sphere or 
plate by itself provided energy is pumped into the medium (space) either 
by a metallic wire circuit to the ball, or a transfered electonically or 
ionically through the dielectric from another scource.  The energy is 
stored in space at the ball/space interface.

Chemists have long held that all highly conductive metals, especially at 
the surface, are a sea of available electrons. their charge values are 
what is transfered to space as energy is placed either on the ball or 
through opposite charging effects through the dielectric from a distant 
source.

Richard Hull, TCBOR