Re: [TCML] Spark dynamics on Jacobs Ladder

["Peter Terren" <pterren@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Just like Lorenz forces in a rail gun the rods will move apart when current 
flows. At some point the forces will hit a resonant point and push them 
apart, but then the spark moves further up away from that resonant point. 
Once the various harmonic resonant points are hit it looks a bit more 
chaotic.

Peter
www.tesladownunder.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>
To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 1:04 AM
Subject: [TCML] Spark dynamics on Jacobs Ladder


I hope this isn't viewed as too off-topic - I'll argue that the same physics 
apply to TC sparks ;-)

I was giving a demonstration of various HV toys to a 4th grade class 
yesterday.  Among the devices was a Jacobs ladder, powered by a 15/30 NST. 
The two 1/8" x 3 ft steel electrodes appeared to have been excited into a 
mechanical oscillation, bouncing towards and away from each other, at very 
roughly ~ 1Hz.  One of the students asked my why they were moving, and I had 
to admit that I didn't know the source of the force that was moving them.

The period of the oscillation was much faster than the arc travel time up 
the electrodes.  It's clear that the period was that of the free-standing 
rods, and that the exciting force between them varies as a function of their 
separation, but I don't see the source of the attraction or repulsion 
between them.  Any theories?

Thanks,
Gary Lau
MA, USA
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