Electricity & Magnetism: Jacob's Ladder

PIRA Class: 5D40.10

Purpose: 

To demonstrate charge flow in air, and how hot ionized air rises with respect to its surrounding air.  

Description: 

A high voltage and high frequency power supply produces a rising and continuous electric arc between two parallel wires, one of which is connected to ground. This occurs when a potential difference is supplied at the bottom of the two wires provided by the transformer power supply. Electrons are fed into one wire which causes them to repel each other, “jumping” over to the ground wire and producing the electric arc. The electric arc causes the air around it to heat up which means as the hot air rises, so will the arc. Once the arc reaches the top of the parallel wires, the electrons are released into the air around it as the arc disappears from the top and restarts at the bottom, repeating the process again.

Equipment: 

Jacob's Ladder

Location:
Shelf 332