Amps or volts?

Question

on a tesla coil, or jacubs ladder whate makes the arc of electricity. volts or amps? i have a good knowledge of electricty but i kinda had brain f**t (whene you know the answer but you forgot). im building a tesla coil. like the picture in this link below. click on it to see.

http://tesladownunder.com/Tesla_8ft.JPG

I have all the stuff needed to make one and all the safty stuff too. dont want to get hurt lol.

also tell me what you think of the pic? the pic is cool to me.

Answer 1

Volts, that's what's needed to create the arc, however there must then be enough amps to sustain the arc.

Answer 2

What creates a high voltage in most devices(like tesla coils or old type car ignition coils)is the sudden collapse or reversal of a magnetic fied in a coil of very many turns;the field is generated by a primary coil of low resistance,hence small number of turns,which is fed from a low voltage source.When the current is switched off(as with the contact breaker circuit in car HT circuits)the rapid change in flux linkage can generate high tension in the secodary coil.the fundamental point is that it takes a high voltage to pump a useful current through a  near insulator like an air gap or the human body.But then again the current needs to be high enough to do what is required and this is simply an application of Ohms law(maybe a bit tinkered with to take account of impedance due to capacitance and inductance).If anyone still believes that the important thing is the availability of a high current I suggest (without fearing arrest for causing death)that you should put you fingers on the terminals of a 12v car battery (capable of 100+amps)and see if you get a shock.A low voltage will put nano amps through you,a high on maybe milliamps.the wattage in those circumstances would be 1000000000000(10^12) times as much for each stroke.PS great picture ,that looks a bit like a Cockroft Walton type used in early nuclear research(million volts and way upwards).Doesn't rely on magnetic field collapse.

Answer 3

great pic

Voltage (potential difference) creates arcs. there does not need to be much current (amps) to create an arc, but the voltage needs to be high to break down the conductivity of air

Answer 4

you obviously do not have any understanding of electricity.

it is voltage that causes the arc over.

and it only takes 3mA to stun the heart and stop it working, the voltage would have to pass through the heart ie hand to hand to stop your heart, but it can be easily revived as long as there is some one with you, otherwise it will lead to  asphyxia.

I would discuss this with your Mummy or Daddy before embarking on building such a device.

Answer 5

Electrostatic potential - as in super-high voltage.  As such there are no 'amps' until the current begins to flow.

Once current begins to flow, there are amps, and the voltage drops accordingly until there is insufficient potential to arc across a given barrier.

The process can then repeat.

<<< ADDITIONAL NOTE >>>

Stephen,  It only requires 30 to 40 milli-amps to stop a human heart!!  Medical fact - and it does not require a particularly high voltage.

Answer 6

one things you dont weant too many off is amssss just remember that.....you will die,,simple   infact 1.3 amps will kill you if it hits you right,,,its volts that make the arc,,,amps only increase as more power is used,,,ie an iron will use up to 11 amps,, which will kill you no problem but i got a jolt of a tv once which was around 20,000 volts,, and as you can see im here

grwy mare??? how do u suppose 30-40 milli amps would penatrate the heart dumbass,,, you need enough current to penetrate,, obviously direct to heart your prob right,, but unless you have a huge gaping hole in your chest i guess your ok,,,next time read *** munch,,, i

Answer 7

The potential difference (voltage) creates the arc. Current (amps) then flows.