ihonvaikutusta

Ihonvaikutusta refers to the skin effect, a phenomenon observed in alternating current (AC) circuits. When an AC current flows through a conductor, it tends to concentrate towards the outer surface of the conductor rather than being uniformly distributed throughout its cross-section. This effect becomes more pronounced as the frequency of the AC current increases.

The skin effect is a consequence of electromagnetic induction. The changing magnetic field produced by the AC current induces eddy currents within the conductor itself. These eddy currents flow in a direction that opposes the main current flow. Consequently, the current density is reduced in the interior of the conductor and increased at the surface.

This uneven current distribution has several practical implications. For instance, it increases the effective resistance of the conductor at higher frequencies, leading to greater power losses due to Joule heating. To mitigate the skin effect, conductors used in high-frequency applications are often made hollow or consist of multiple thin strands insulated from each other, a technique known as Litz wire. The choice of conductor material also plays a role, as materials with higher conductivity exhibit a less severe skin effect. Understanding and accounting for the skin effect is crucial in the design of electrical components and systems operating at radio frequencies and above, such as in radio transmitters, antennas, and high-frequency power supplies.