The Ford Barn - View Single Post - Stupid Question #2: how does an iron frame act as a ground on our cars

ericr · 09-06-2019, 06:48 PM

-or any car, for that matter. but I'll bet some of us have wondered about this.

our cars are DC of course, meaning, apparently, that there is a constant flow of electrons through the system when some application is using electricity. how can a frame of iron/steel act as a successful conductor for one pole of the battery?

We don't associate iron/steel as being a significant conductor in other contexts....how can it be successful in electrical transmission on a car?

09-06-2019, 06:48 PM	#1
ericr Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 1,542	Stupid Question #2: how does an iron frame act as a ground on our cars -or any car, for that matter. but I'll bet some of us have wondered about this. our cars are DC of course, meaning, apparently, that there is a constant flow of electrons through the system when some application is using electricity. how can a frame of iron/steel act as a successful conductor for one pole of the battery? We don't associate iron/steel as being a significant conductor in other contexts....how can it be successful in electrical transmission on a car?