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At 02:28 PM 4/6/97 -0500, Roger A. Pruitt wrote:Thanks, Brian. There are reasons for archaic terms. Should we continue to
[Ludwic K.]... What
is wrong with the term condenser? It is used in other languages.
[Roger P.]
Just because it is used in other languages doesn't make it the best term to
use. According to my dictionary condense means to produce a liquid from a
gas or vapor--a reduction to a denser form.
Roger
The Leyden jar was invented in 1745.
The jar was originally half filled with liquid as the inner conductor.
The electric essence was thought to be a fluid.
This 'fluid' was applied to the center electrode, where it entered the liquid.
The charge was then capable of storage for some time.
By analogy with condensation of steam in a water jar, what could be a
more natural label for this functionality?
But the foregoing is just a plausible 'Just-So' story, because
it appears that Volta first applied the term condenser to the metal disks
sandwiching a resin dielectric layer which he used as an electrophorus (1775).
(Src - EncBrit articles: Leyden jar, condenser, electrophorus in 14th Ed.
The term 'condenser' deprecated in later eds of EncBrit and EncAm)
Regards
brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>
Altus OK