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Physics! (lemmy.dbzer0.com)
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[-] gbzm@piefed.social 29 points 1 week ago

Why is the mercury arc rectifier getting a "what the fuck"? I don't know much about them, are they more magic than glowing rocks, runes, levitation and demon cores?

[-] CountVlad47@feddit.org 24 points 1 week ago

Just piggy backing this comment to save people a click. A mercury-arc valve is used to convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC). It probably got a WTF for how weird it looks and how it looks like a crystal ball when it's working.

[-] redsand@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 week ago

Are you telling me that's a full bridge rectifier made of glass, liquid metal and plasma?🧙‍♂️

[-] zululove@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 week ago

That shits amazing

[-] fullsquare@awful.systems 23 points 1 week ago

no, but they will also kill you (but not by magic)

[-] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

How so? Can I touch it? Lick it?

[-] fullsquare@awful.systems 6 points 1 week ago

These things are under high voltage, so no. And then there's several kg of mercury inside

this post was submitted on 18 Oct 2025
527 points (100.0% liked)

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