** Currents have direction - voltages have polarity.



ok, got that. but what about when the cable runs next to an AC
transformer? that's the part that i don't quite get -- i don't see
how it could induce current in one conductor in opposite direction
with
the other. could you explain?


** Like many folk - you have not grasped the concept of what a circuit
is. Current can only *flow* in a circuit - ie a closed loop. But a
voltage ( also called an " emf " in some texts ) will exist between the
ends of a piece of wire exposed to a varying magnetic field.


ok, i can accept that. but as soon as i put an impedance across the
terminals, including a voltmeter, current flows. which is it? i'm
going insane! is it voltage or current? current or voltage?

i suppose elecrtic charge would be the pc term.

thanks, phil. i understand that so much of what we use is an accepted
vocabulary, so these discussions get confusing -- like that assumption
that electricity flows from + to - . . .

cheers,
chris deckard
saint louismo