spark gap

Discharge jumping distance

A spark gap is a space between two electrodes across which an electrical spark can jump when voltage is high enough.

Spark gaps serve as switches in high-voltage circuits, allowing current to flow only when voltage exceeds a threshold.

They appear in spark plugs, lightning arresters, and early radio transmitters.

The spark gap fires when the capacitor reaches full charge.

wireless

radio

Electromagnetic wave receiver

telegraphyElectrical long-distance messaging
MarconiRadio telegraphy pioneer
antennaBroadcast signal receiver

transmitter · receiver · signal · transmission · tuning · resonance · detector · oscillator · rotary · quenched

component

electrode

Conductive interface point

conductorOne who directs musicians
insulatorSubstance resisting energy flow
capacitorCharge-storing circuit element

circuit · resistor · inductor · transformer · rectifier · potentiometer · multimeter · oscilloscope · terminals · housing

discharge

arc

Curved line segment

plasmaElectrified matter state
ionizationCharge acquisition process
flashoverSudden total combustion event

corona · breakdown · dielectric · electron · cathode · anode · megavolt · short-circuit · electrify · ionize

ignition

combustion

Exothermic reaction with oxygen

engineMachine producing motion
flameBurning gas made visible
fireCombustion with flames

fuel · cylinder · carburetor · starter · piston · timing · magneto · coil · distributor · plug

Opposites

electrical connection type

spark gapdirect connection

closed circuit · short circuit · wire · terminal block · jumper wire

conduction mechanism

spark gapinsulator

Substance resisting energy flow

dielectric · open circuit · resistor · transistor · semiconductor

Family

gap, spark, sparkle, gaping, sparks, agape, sparklers, sparked, sparking

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G