Is it just us or is it a little bit strange that things can be and frequently are better insulators than vacuum?
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we understand why, of course, it just feels a bit weird for some reason
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@Felthry That's a thing? Hmm...
I mean, if it's conduction-wise it does strike me as weird! Radiation-wise it'd make total sense though.
@IceWolf yeah, glass and some rubbers are stronger electrical insulators than vacuum
because the only thing keeping electrons from moving freely in vacuum is the work function of the metal they're already in, whereas in a non-vacuum insulator there's all these atoms in the way and nowhere for electrons to move freely
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@IceWolf of course at low electric field strengths and low temperatures a vacuum is a pretty great insulator but once you get those electrons out of the metal they move freely through the vacuum
that's why vacuum tubes work in the first place
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@Felthry ...OH /neat!/
@IceWolf vacuum tubes are great
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@Felthry Oh huh neato! Thanks! =^.^=