I've been watching new power poles go up around our campus and it
occurred to me that the insulators that hold the wires always have the
same basic shape: what appears to be ceramic "disks" stacked together.
I've tried to think through why this shape is important, but so far I've
come up empty. Does it perhaps have to do with moisture shedding? An
increased surface area would get rid of heat more efficiently, but these
insulators shouldn't get that hot anyway, right?
I'm likely missing something really simple, but I'd appreciate it if
anyone out there knows the answer, please give me a clue.
Thanks.
--
Van E. Neie Ph: 765-494-5511
Purdue University FAX: 765-494-0706
Dept of Physics Home: 157 Ivy Hill Drive
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"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find that it is tied to
everything else in the universe."
---John Muir