[Avodah] water and electricity

[David Riceman]

RMB:
> But the whole analysis is off. It's an abstract / objective comparison.
> Even if the CI thought electricity was a fluid, the experience of
> electricity is totally unlike water. The point is that an electrical
> circuit is a work-doing thing; that's what they're made for. The same
> structure not there for work isn't necessarily "broken".
>   
According to the CI the problem is binyan and stirah.  Why should 
"work-doing" matter?

According to Wikipedia domestic refrigeration became available in the 
USA "around 1911", and commercial refrigeration for meat packing was 
even earlier (i.e., during Rabbi Karelitz's life).  As far as I can tell 
the majority of electricity used in my house is for refrigerating, 
freezing, and air conditioning.  That's not inherently "work doing".  
Yet, AIUI, the CI would prohibit my turning off a refrigerator on 
Shabbos because of stirah, even in the absence of technical problems 
associated with the motor.

RLK:
<<1) A tap is not a broken connection it is a blockage.>>

Solid stuff blocks water, air (usually) blocks electric current.

<<2) Allowing the water to come out does not complete a flow path, it 
just enables the water to come out on its own with the already present 
pressure.>>

In the absence of ground (a lower "electric pressure") electricity won't 
flow.

RTK:

<<You are not bringing the water into existence by opening the faucet.  
But it seems to me there is no pool of electricity sitting 
there someplace, no puddles of electricity sitting in the wires.>>

(a) Where do you think the electrons go?  (b) What about a circuit with 
a battery? Why isn't a battery a "pool of electricity"?

RMB (again):

<<To really be similar, there has to be a load that does work only when the

circuit is closed.>>

This misrepresents the CI's opinion.  He prohibited closing an electric circuit because of boneh, not because of the work that it does.

David Riceman