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Re: Sparks to Mid-Air (fwd)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2007 08:14:51 -0400
From: Dave Pierson <davep@xxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Sparks to Mid-Air (fwd)
>This is something that's been bugging me for a while. I like to
>understand things that I see and do, but I can't figure out how a Tesla
>coil can create sparks into mid-air.
Same way anything else does.
Localized corona breakdown, followed by a visible streamer.
>You'd have to have some voltage generated in the air relative to the Tesla
>coil topload (I think), but how?
Once the field strength exceeds breakdown, corona starts, initially
invisibly. If power is available, one or more path will extend.
> Is this dependent on the frequency at all?
On one level:
No.
A van de Graaff will cheerfully spark over to air.
Details of spark appearance may change.
> Like, would a theoretical Tesla coil operating at a very low frequency still
> generate sparks into mid-air?
The van de Graaff is DC. 'bout as low as it gets.
best
dwp