Re: Terry's Test - Two Manifestations of Charge

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Antonio Carlos M. de Queiroz" <acmdq@xxxxxxxxxx>

Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "David Thomson" <dwt@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Hi Antonio,
> You give a nice analysis, but unfortunately the analysis begins
> by guessing the very parameter I'm trying to objectively measure.
> That doesn't help at all.

It's well known since the XVIII century that breakdown voltage is almost
completely a function of the shape of the terminals. Pressure and
temperature have important effect too, but in this case these conditions
are practically the same in both gaps. More subtle effects are
the potentials of the terminals to ground and surrounding objects
(affects the electric field distribution), the polarity (the
negative side breaks down first in a symmetrical gap), and level
of ionizing radiation on the terminals (ultraviolet light and
higher frequencies).

> Is there a way to measure electrostatic potential in between
> sparks?  We should see a potential rise just before the spark
> breaks.  Maybe an oscilloscope can inductively pick up the
> signals?

A capacitive divider is relatively easy to implement and calibrate.

> What if three independent current loops are placed around each of
> the topload, tube, and ground rods, like the connection for an
> automobile timing light to a spark plug wire?  To standardize the
> measurements, all three probe ends could pass though a 2" piece
> of high voltage wire with the exact number of pickup loops
> wrapped around the middle of each one.  Then measure the
> potential difference between each pair of pickups.  That should
> give us the relative potentials.  If we want the exact
> potentials, the measurements can be calibrated to the known
> topload and ground potentials.

Anything inductive would measure currents, not voltages.

Antonio Carlos M. de Queiroz