electro-Physics: 17.3409 volts

From: Paul Koning <pkoning_at_equallogic.com>
Date: Mon Dec 13 08:29:42 2004

>>>>> "Tom" == Tom Jennings <tomj_at_wps.com> writes:

 Tom> On Fri, 10 Dec 2004, Jules Richardson wrote:
>> Out of interest, why do we use 50Hz power in the UK and 60Hz in
>> the US? (I don't mean why are they different, I mean why those
>> numbers)
>>
>> I saw yesterday a claim that the 60Hz in the US was a Tesla
>> invention, but the info didn't elaborate on why he chose that
>> figure if so...

 Tom> I don't know, but 60Hz is awfully convenient for calculating
 Tom> time (with synch motors).

So is 50 Hz. The fastest moving hand on a clock goes at one RPM, so
any frequency that can be converted to 1/60th Hz by multiplying with a
sequence of rational numbers p/q with moderate sized p and q is fine.
For example, 16 2/3rd Hz would be ok, too. (I think that is, or was,
used on railroads of some European country, not sure which one.)

Some of this discussion reminds me of the "arguments" why the metric
system is inferior to the US system of measures.

I don't actually know where 50 and 60 Hz came from, nor 100 and 115
and 220 and 240 volts. There may be some ancient justification in the
tinkerings of various 19th century engineers, but it seems to me it
makes most sense simply to view them as random numbers.

      paul
Received on Mon Dec 13 2004 - 08:29:42 GMT