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axial
axial asked in Science & MathematicsEngineering · 3 years ago

When spark gap fires what determines the frequency of radiated em waves?

Update:

Any spark gap

Update 2:

I wasn't asking about spark gap transmitter. "A simple spark driven by a DC voltage does not make any EM waves." < This could not be more wrong. EVERY spark produces em waves.

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  • Old Man Dirt
    Lv 7
    3 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    To some degree the harmonic of the spark plug gap. Notice how it appears in a narrow band on a radio.

    But there is also the Brimstron effect. This is used in X-ray tubes to generate X-rays and to some extent happening in combustion chamber. When a high speed electron is absorbed some times radiation is emitted. This can be at any level of energy from heat to x-rays.

    http://pd.chem.ucl.ac.uk/pdnn/inst1/xrays.htm

  • billrussell42
    Lv 7
    3 years ago

    There is a resonant circuit around a spark gap transmitter, with a capacitor and the inductance of the wires and the antenna. That resonant circuit determines the frequency.

    A simple spark driven by a DC voltage does not make any EM waves.

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