Re: [TCML] Why so loud?

[Steve Ward <steve.ward@xxxxxxxxx>]

This brings up something interesting that i noticed with my special
Quasi Constant Wave (QCW) SSTCs.  I can control the rate of growth for
the spark, and also the rate of decay.  Slowing down the growth time
does make the spark sound kinda "fluffy", but giving it a sharp turn
off (removing the power from the spark fast, like 20uS) makes it quite
a bit louder.  I think the answer is simply that it cools down a lot
faster, so you still get a significant dp/dt (change in pressure) due
to cooling more rapidly.  I cant imagine there being any sort of
vacuum being generated.  But yes, the cooling part of the cycle makes
noise too ;-).  The sparks are still not nearly as loud as a
conventional tesla coil making similarly sized sparks, so im guessing
its the heating part of the cycle that makes most of the sound.

Steve

On Fri, Feb 8, 2013 at 4:46 PM, Mark X2 <susax2@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 2013/2/8 Jim Lux <jimlux@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>> On 2/8/13 12:31 PM, Mark X2 wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Paul,
>>>
>>> Actually, it isn't the air expanding because of the heat that makes the
>>> thunder.
>>> The shockwave is caused by the rapidly imploding vacuum that is left
>>> behind
>>> when the spark disappears.
>>> It's comparable to cracking your knuckels or cavitation in a radiator.
>>>
>>>
>> Not really.. that "collapsing vacuum" explanation (which has also been
>> used for thunder from lightning) is incorrect (and probably dates from the
>> nature abohrs a vacuum days)
>>
>
> You've just shattered my whole world Jim, all those years I thought I
> knew...
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