Re: explanation of sparks into air needed

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Gerry Reynolds" <gerryreynolds-at-earthlink-dot-net> 

Hi Jim,

Here's one idea:   Explain the air as molecules each containing a balanced
number of positive charge (protons) and negative charge (electrons).  If an
object has enough of one type of charge, it will pull the opposite charge
toward it and repel the like charge away from it thus breaking apart the two
charges in the molecule (ionizing the molecule).

Gerry R.

 > Original poster: "Jim Lux" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>
 >
 > I'm looking for a good short explanation of how sparks can go into air
from
 > a charged object. The problem I'm having is trying to explain that not all
 > sparks have to go from one place to another place, partly because my
 > audience has a hard time conceptualizing the idea of a high field that can
 > cause a breakdown.
 >
 >