Final answer:
Mechanical pressure does not affect the speed of electricity in a copper pipe. The continuity equation applies to incompressible fluids, dictating that flow rate is constant, but electrical flow is governed by resistance according to Ohm's Law and different principles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept that velocity is inversely proportional to pressure is rooted in the continuity equation and Bernoulli's principle, rather than a characteristic of electrical current in conductors such as copper pipes. In fluid dynamics, the continuity equation states that the product of the cross-sectional area (A) and the velocity (v) must remain constant for an incompressible fluid.
This implies that as the cross-sectional area of a pipe decreases, the velocity of the fluid must increase to maintain a constant flow rate (Q = Av).
When it comes to electricity, the speed of electricity, also known as the drift velocity of electrons, does not depend on mechanical pressure but is influenced by electric potential and the physical properties of the conductor such as resistance.
Resistance is defined by Ohm's Law, which relates the current (I), voltage (V), and resistance (R) in a circuit (V=IR). Factors that affect resistance include temperature, material properties, and cross-sectional area of the conductor, not pressure in the mechanical sense.
Therefore, exerting mechanical pressure on a copper pipe does not affect the speed of electricity through the copper. Electrical resistance is not analogous to pressure in fluid flow, but rather to obstacles that might impede the flow of current through a conductor.