When using very high voltage (>10,000 V) and very low current, how might changes in voltage affect the maximum arc length produced between two terminals?
(ie. how much longer can I make an arc by further stepping up the voltage)
2007-07-15 17:38:18 · 2 answers · asked by jsprplc2006 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
The higher the voltage, the longer the arc can get, but the length depends on many factors: the air pressure, temperature, and humidity; whether there is a wind; the shape and size of the electrodes.
2007-07-15 17:42:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In fact, you've hit the nail on the head.
The length of an electrical arc through a (normally) insulating material (such as air) is directly proportional to the voltage that generated the arc.
An insulator 'breaks down' and becomes a conductor when the electric field exceeds its dielectric strength. The dielectric strength of air is approximately 3,000,000 volts per meter. That means to make a spark jump between two objects that are 1 meter apart, the voltage difference between the objects will need to be close to 3,000,000 volts. Other factors can affect this, though.
2007-07-15 17:43:50 · answer #2 · answered by lithiumdeuteride 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋