Re: theory(?) for long sparks

To: "'Tesla List'" <tesla-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com>
Subject: Re: theory(?) for long sparks
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
Date: Fri, 5 Dec 1997 23:58:01 -0600
Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net

From: 	Bill Lemieux[SMTP:gomez-at-netherworld-dot-com]
Sent: 	Friday, December 05, 1997 4:02 PM
To: 	Tesla List
Subject: 	Re: theory(?) for long sparks

Tesla List wrote:

> Something similar certainly works with electrostatic generators. I fix a
> small ball to the main positive terminal with a short section of plastic tube,
> and get longer sparks than with the main terminals alone (in a Wimshurst
> machine, for example). But almost the same effect is obtained with a
> direct connection, and the trick works only with the positive terminal.
> I don't know what would happen in a Tesla coil. Someone coild make a test.

If you want to try something interesting in the way of achieving
artificially-lengthened sparks, try this with a larger coil:

Attach a node to your toroid, a 1" sphere for example, to promote sparks
from a predictable location.  Suspend a 6 - 10 foot (depending on the
power of your coil) piece of 4" ID PVC pipe from nylon cords or other
insulating material over head, such that the opening of the pipe is
within 1-2" of the node.

The sparks will rapidly develop an ionized (and moving, although
protected from heat-induced rising or breezes) channel of air down the
pipe.

Be prepared to extinguish the pipe when the sparks branching out of the
far end ignite the edge of the plastic!

-Gomez

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