electrical breakdown
Dielectric strength exceeded
Electrical breakdown is the sudden transition of an insulating material into a conductor when voltage exceeds a critical threshold.
The material's resistance collapses as current surges through it.
Lightning is electrical breakdown of air; a spark jumping a gap demonstrates the same principle.
In electronics, breakdown can destroy components or be harnessed deliberately, as in surge protectors.
- Townsend dischargeElectron cascade in gas
- sparkTiny fiery particle
- spark gapSpace for electrical discharge
- arcCurved line segment
- currentDirected flow of charge
insulation · voltage · short circuit · shock · flash over · conductor · corona · power line · power surge · heat · ionization · burn · fuse · surge · blown fuse · ozone · circuit breaker · flash
electrical breakdownelectrical insulation
Material blocking current escape
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