Electric arcs are created when electricity jumps between two electrodes, forming a bridge of electrons visible to the eye. The temperature and brightness of the arc depend on gas type and pressure. Electric arcs are used for welding, lighting, and melting metals. They can also be used for plasma speakers. Nikola Tesla’s Tesla coil and lightning are examples of electric arcs.
An electric arc is the flow of electric current between two electrodes, formed when electricity jumps from one electrode to the other. The connection made by the jump creates a “bridge” or arc of electrons visible to the eye. This arc contains extremely high heat and brightness which is ideal for welding and lighting.
The temperature and brightness of the electric arcs depend mainly on two factors: type of gas and pressure. As the electric current travels through the space between the electrodes, it heats the surrounding air. By changing the chemical composition of the air, the heat and brightness of the arc can be altered.
When the arc is enclosed in a container, glass or plastic depending on its use, the air pressure surrounding the arc can be controlled for specific purposes. Air can be removed to create a vacuum or a gas can be added to create high pressure arcs. Both are used in different types of lighting.
The Tesla coil is a type of electric arc that operates at regular atmospheric pressure. Its inventor, Nikola Tesla, is generally considered the predecessor of the image of a “mad scientist”. This image was evoked when the images showed him conducting experiments in the light of electric arcs operating in the background.
Lightning is a natural electric arc that provides the same show. Electricity created in the air travels to the ground or other clouds. This forms an electric arc that can reach several yards (meters) in length.
The electric arc furnace uses the high heat in the arc to melt metals. Electricity passes through metals, which heats them to the melting point. Scrap metal is commonly melted down using this method. The energy of the furnace is generally lower than in a blast furnace. The ability to quickly stop and start an arc furnace allows a steel mill to change the furnace load to suit their needs.
Welders use the same principle for electric arc welding. The metal rods are electrified by a power supply and an arc is formed when the rods contact another metal. Enough heat is generated to melt the two metals. Welders then use this process to weld the two metals together.
An interesting use of the electric arc is on plasma speakers. Instead of using traditional speakers to produce sound, most plasma speakers use ionized gas or live electricity. The expansion and contraction of the arc as a current passes through it disturbs the air. This, in turn, produces the sound. Plasma speakers are said to produce clearer sound by not having the physical limitations that many other speakers have.
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