That will depend on how the hypothetical single point of charge was established.abdossamad2003 said:Given that the electric field is greater than the breakdown of air, will no spark appear?
Electrical breakdown in air is a process where the air, which normally acts as an insulator, becomes conductive due to the presence of a high electric field. This leads to a rapid increase in current, often resulting in a spark or arc.
A single charge can create an electric field that influences the distribution of other charges in the air. If the electric field strength becomes sufficiently high, it can ionize air molecules, leading to the initiation of an electrical breakdown.
The threshold electric field for electrical breakdown in air is approximately 3 x 10^6 V/m (volts per meter). When the electric field exceeds this value, air molecules are ionized, and a conductive path is formed.
Free electrons play a crucial role in electrical breakdown in air. They can gain energy from the electric field and collide with air molecules, ionizing them and creating more free electrons in a cascading effect, which leads to the breakdown.
Yes, electrical breakdown can occur at lower electric fields in the presence of a single charge if the charge creates a localized high electric field. Factors such as the shape of the charge distribution and the presence of impurities can also lower the breakdown threshold.