RE: Why ARE the sparks blue / purple (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2007 20:02:10 -0400
From: Scott Bogard <teslas-intern@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: Why ARE the sparks blue / purple (fwd)


James,
     The sparks color as perceived by our eyes, is determined by:  
Atmospheric composition, Atmospheric pressure, Arc current, the presence
of trace elements (burning bits of metal or dust (this is usually
negligible in TC streamers, but they make a big difference in Jacobs
ladder streamers)), ambient light (duh,).  The reason I say "percieved
color" is that many, many wavelengths are produced by a TC spark, the
purple color is the combination of them (which is why filmed and
photographed arcs look a differant color than real life, the camera is not
sensitive to all the frequencies that our eyes are).  I hope I answered
your question.

Scott Bogard.

> Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2007 11:36:38 -0700
> From: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Why ARE the sparks blue / purple (fwd)
> 
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:34:42 +0000
> From: James Howells <james@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Why ARE the sparks blue / purple
> 
> At Saturday's CAMBRIDGE ( UK) TESLATHON  I was asked by a visitor why 
> are the sparks blue /purple
> and I did not know !
> I assumed it was because ozone resonates at that optical  wave length 
> but I do not know for sure ..... answers please.
> 
> -- 
> Protected by www.SpamJab.com {UgzndUInruKjv2Cy9r}
> 
> 
> 
> 

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