- #1
adoado
- 72
- 0
Hello all,
I am studying physics at university, and I read something interesting in my book: If the electric field strength increases beyond 30,000 V/m in air, a spark will be created between the two potential differences.
This was really interesting, and being a more practical person I wanted to see if I could accomplish such an experiment at home to achieve this myself.
Here are my thoughts: I learned from by book that V = Ed (that is, the voltage across a capacitor is equal to electric field strength multiplied by the distance between the electrodes). So, I found out with a 4mm gap I need the voltage 1200 volts.
Here is the issue, electronics not being my strongest side of physics; is there any way to step up a 9 volt DC battery to the required voltage?
Again, trying to use some physics I thought of two solutions: Increase the resistance in the circuit (V=IR, so as R increases, V increases) or use a transformer to step DOWN the current, so V increases..
Any ideas or comments would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Adrian
I am studying physics at university, and I read something interesting in my book: If the electric field strength increases beyond 30,000 V/m in air, a spark will be created between the two potential differences.
This was really interesting, and being a more practical person I wanted to see if I could accomplish such an experiment at home to achieve this myself.
Here are my thoughts: I learned from by book that V = Ed (that is, the voltage across a capacitor is equal to electric field strength multiplied by the distance between the electrodes). So, I found out with a 4mm gap I need the voltage 1200 volts.
Here is the issue, electronics not being my strongest side of physics; is there any way to step up a 9 volt DC battery to the required voltage?
Again, trying to use some physics I thought of two solutions: Increase the resistance in the circuit (V=IR, so as R increases, V increases) or use a transformer to step DOWN the current, so V increases..
Any ideas or comments would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Adrian