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Re: Tesla Coil toroid Size
to: Russ
The acoustic "bang" is caused by the rapid heating of the air which creates
a sonic shock wave similar to that created when a plane exceeds the speed
of sound. The shock wave creates the acoustic signal which is actually
very crisp (similar to ripping paper) in nature and decays and is
"filtered" due to acoustic attenuation as it travels through the moisture
laden atmosphere. For further reading -- Lightning by Marty Uman.
DR.RESONANCE-at-next-wave-dot-net
----------
> From: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: RE: Tesla Coil toroid Size
> Date: Monday, September 21, 1998 6:22 PM
>
> Original Poster: "Thornton, Russ #CSR2000" <ThorntoR-at-rc.pafb.af.mil>
>
> Robert,
> Accepting the offer to nit-pick may I offer the following comparison.
> Assuming that there may be some translative value here, we radar types on
> the Eastern Range affectionately call our pulses "bangs". Although,
there
> is no official definition, it is understood to be the entire pulse from
rise
> to fall. Now the fact that they are in the order of microseconds may have
> some bearing on why we don't distinguish the full bang from just the rise
as
> acoustically it's barely even a click. :^)
> Now, I am far from an acoustics expert myself, but if we took a more
> related event, lightning. Does the acoustic bang come from the arc
forming
> or from it collapsing. Everything I have read is that the collapsing arc
is
> what makes the thunder(bang).
>
>
> Russ Thornton
> Sr. Radar Systems Engineer
> CSR 2040,
> Building 989, Rm. A1-N20
> Phone: (407) 494-6430
> Email: thorntor-at-rc.pafb.af.mil
>
>
>
> > ----------
> > From: Tesla List[SMTP:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
> > Sent: Friday, September 18, 1998 5:25 AM
> > To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> > Subject: Re: Tesla Coil toroid Size
> >
> > Original Poster: "Robert W. Stephens" <rwstephens-at-headwaters-dot-com>
> >
> > Tesla List wrote:
> > >
> > > Original Poster: "Malcolm Watts" <MALCOLM-at-directorate.wnp.ac.nz>
> > >
> > > Since I have been involved in this discussion, I will make *my*
> > > definition of "bang" 200% clear: A bang starts when the gap first
> > > conducts and ceases when the gap ceases to conduct. The trace on the
> > > oscilloscope makes it abundantly clear that the secondary is doing
> > > nothing for most of the time between bangs in a sparking coil. The
> > > energy loss will not permit it.
> > >
> > > Now, back to coiling...
> > > Malcolm
> > <snippage>
> >
> > Malcolm,
> >
> > It appears that your definition of 'bang' and my own differ slightly.
I
> > consider the term synonymous with the acoustical event which
accompanies
> > a spark gap going from a non-conducting to conducting state. I suspect
> > that most of this acoustical 'bang' occurs on the sharp vertical rise
of
> > current through the gap and much less so after the plasma channel has
> > formed and stabilized. Hence in 'my definition of bang', assuming that
> > the sound pressure wave pretty much ends ends after the sharp vertical
> > leading edge of gap current conduction occurs, there can still be a
> > closed primary oscillatory circuit (ionized gap) processing an
> > oscillatory ringdown after the bang.
> >
> > Since one purpose of this forum is to pick at the tinyest of technical
> > points, I invite comments. Any ion acoustical wave experts (if that's
> > the correct term) out there?
> >
> > I guess if a totally encapsulated solid state switch were employed
> > instead of a spark gap, we could be talking about a 'click' size.
> > Furthermore, the primary inductor definitely creates acoustical output
> > from mechanical motion when clobbered by a large electrical pulse!
I've
> > also 'heard' T-03 silicon transistors 'sing'. If you ever get the
> > chance to go into an AM radio station's tuning hut at the base of the
> > antenna tower and they are crankin' at least 10 kW you will hear
> > metallic sounding speech and music coming from the large silver plated
> > copper tubing, air cored tuning coils. It is very etherial.
> >
> > Robert W. Stephens
> >
> >
>