What makes spark plugs consistently igniting?

Question

I want to know how what keeps them igniting, what pushes at the back of the spark plug so it ignites? My understanding of spark plugs is that they work like those spring pens, you push at the back and the pen tip comes out at the front. I (THINK) (Correct me if i am wrong), that spark plugs work the same way except every time the back of the plug is pushed it creates a spark(duh). I want to know what gives it that push.

Answer 1

electric spark from the coil pac or distributor,makes the spark plug work,,hence the name spark plug....if want to read more go to www.msdignitions.com....

Answer 2

spark plugs are strickly electrical and non mechanical    they are part of a high voltage system starting at the low voltage side of the coil  the coil in turn through windings in the auto transformer create a high voltage output that is fed to the distributer  then to the plug

in essence a spark plug is a controlled short circuit  current travels through the air from one side of the plug to the other

there are certain devices such as those found in lighters that operate as a spring loaded igniter   these are piezo electric devices but not at all related to a cars spark plug

sorta off topic  but the us patent office does have a few applications onfile for a spring based spark plug but the devices would be under so much stress that we would be replacing them at least every few 100 miles the idea was that a constant high current voltage would be fed to the plugs and during the compression stroke the piston would press up on the spring mechanism on the plug and trigger a spark release thus igniting the fuel air mix in the cylinder      just sounds like a repair nightmare to me\

hope my pointless rant helped

Answer 3

Actually, there is nothing pushing on the spark plug. The spark plug wire is attached to a metal tip at the end of the spark plug. At precise intervals, the wire delivers an electrical charge to the tip of the spark plug. The charge is transfered an electrode at the other end. The electric charge arcs, and ignites the fuel.