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Re: [TCML] Spark dynamics on Jacobs Ladder



The video I have of my ladder shows exactly that.. at first the electrodes aren't moving at all but after it is running for a while, they really start swaying, apart then closer together. Since I was running this in my un-heated barn, I thought it might also be from the heating/cooling
of the air  (at least that was my laymans explanation)

amazing how much they did start moving. enough so that sometimes the arc couldn't start
and when it did it would only travel part way up before extinguishing.

Paul...
----- Original Message ----- From: "Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>
To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 11:04 AM
Subject: [TCML] Spark dynamics on Jacobs Ladder


I hope this isn't viewed as too off-topic - I'll argue that the same physics apply to TC sparks ;-)

I was giving a demonstration of various HV toys to a 4th grade class yesterday. Among the devices was a Jacobs ladder, powered by a 15/30 NST. The two 1/8" x 3 ft steel electrodes appeared to have been excited into a mechanical oscillation, bouncing towards and away from each other, at very roughly ~ 1Hz. One of the students asked my why they were moving, and I had to admit that I didn't know the source of the force that was moving them.

The period of the oscillation was much faster than the arc travel time up the electrodes. It's clear that the period was that of the free-standing rods, and that the exciting force between them varies as a function of their separation, but I don't see the source of the attraction or repulsion between them. Any theories?

Thanks,
Gary Lau
MA, USA
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