Re: secondary question

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: Mddeming-at-aol-dot-com 

In a message dated 3/7/04 12:18:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:
Original poster: "Steve Zeitler" <zeitler-at-verizon-dot-net>

I have seen plenty of coils in person and pictures that produce arcs much
longer than the length of the secondary coil. What prevents to voltage from
the secondary from just arcing down it's own length? Its the shortest path.
                                             Steve Z

Hi Steve,
     The shortest straight line distance is not always the path of least 
electrical resistance. The shape and gradient of the electrical field and 
the presence of hot, ionized gas are more significant to the formation of 
streamers than the physical distance. With a properly shaped topload (e.g. 
toroidal) you will note in pictures that streamers tend to form at or above 
the horizontal plane of the toroid. The field around such a toroid seems to 
be shaped like a lightbulb. Even with strikes to ground, the streamers 
progress outward some distance before turning downward. Double toroids with 
the larger one on top increase the effect even more.

Hope this helps,

Matt D.