Re: question about "lambda" (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2007 09:42:33 -0400
From: Dave Pierson <davep@xxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: question about "lambda" (fwd)

There is a gotcha to be aware/conscious of:

As discussed previously (cf archives) '1/4 wave length of wire'
wound up may or may not 'look electrically' like a '1/4 wave'.

Notably, 'long skinny' coils need 1/2 wave of wire to look like
a '1/4 wave', with 'short fat' coils needing more like 1/4 wave of
wire.  (cf any antenna book with a good discussion of 'continuously
loaded' antennas.)  It is possible (tho i shan't attempt it) to 
put numerical values to 'long skinny' and 'short fat'.

All THAT said, my understanding is that for 'spark gap' (impulse
excited) coils, the 'electrical wavelength' of the secondary is
of minimal importance compared to other factors, especially once
breakout occurs.

best
 dwp