Re: [TCML] Spark dynamics on Jacobs Ladder

["dunnsept" <dunnsept@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The video I have of my ladder shows exactly that.. at first the electrodes 
aren't moving at all
but after it is running for a while, they really start swaying, apart then 
closer together.
Since I was running this in my un-heated barn, I thought it might also be 
from the heating/cooling
of the air  (at least that was my laymans explanation)

amazing how much they did start moving. enough so that sometimes the arc 
couldn't start
and when it did it would only travel part way up before extinguishing.

Paul...
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>
To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 11:04 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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