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> Is this a similar reason to why long distance power lines are of a much higher voltage?

Long-distance power conductors use the highest practical voltage to avoid what are called "I squared R" losses, so named because the power dissipated in a resistance (like a transmission line) is equal the the square of the current times the resistance.

For a given power level, one can obtain that same power with a very high voltage and a proportionally lower current, thus greatly reducing resistive losses in the lines. This is why a million volts is by no means out of the question for long power transmission lines.



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