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A good explaination of the physics would be helpful. I've provided some links as a starting point, but I'm not qualified to write on the physics of this obscure effect. --
John Nagle (
talk) 18:12, 15 December 2007 (UTC)reply
I've edited the article a little. The IBM reference specifically states that the Edison patent does not involve this effect, only resembles it, so I removed the claim that it was the first use.
Although a device disclosed in a patent3 issued to Edison in 1879 does not depend upon the Johnsen-Rahbek effect for its operation, it nevertheless resemblesa Johnsen-Rahbek clutch
I also changed the basic definition: the effect creates an attractive force between the two surface. This has the side-effect of increasing the frictional force, but could have other consequences as well. I used
this paper as a reference, as well as the IBM paper already mentioned. It contains some more info about the exact physics behind the effect, should anyone wish to pursue that, but I just skimmed it. --
Starwed (
talk) 13:33, 21 May 2008 (UTC)reply
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Physics, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of
Physics on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join
the discussion and see a list of open tasks.PhysicsWikipedia:WikiProject PhysicsTemplate:WikiProject Physicsphysics articles
A good explaination of the physics would be helpful. I've provided some links as a starting point, but I'm not qualified to write on the physics of this obscure effect. --
John Nagle (
talk) 18:12, 15 December 2007 (UTC)reply
I've edited the article a little. The IBM reference specifically states that the Edison patent does not involve this effect, only resembles it, so I removed the claim that it was the first use.
Although a device disclosed in a patent3 issued to Edison in 1879 does not depend upon the Johnsen-Rahbek effect for its operation, it nevertheless resemblesa Johnsen-Rahbek clutch
I also changed the basic definition: the effect creates an attractive force between the two surface. This has the side-effect of increasing the frictional force, but could have other consequences as well. I used
this paper as a reference, as well as the IBM paper already mentioned. It contains some more info about the exact physics behind the effect, should anyone wish to pursue that, but I just skimmed it. --
Starwed (
talk) 13:33, 21 May 2008 (UTC)reply