a stream of electrons jumping across an air gap, heating the air until it glows and expands
a volume of air which has been electrically converted from a gas into a plasma, the fourth state of matter
A high-voltage electrical discharge that occurs when current that is moving through the spark plug jumps across the gap between two metal electrodes (see spark plug).
a short duration electric discharge caused by a sudden breakdown of air or some other dielectric material that separates two terminals. It is accompanied by a momentary flash or light.
A spark results from the sudden breakdown of the insulating strength of a dielectric (such as air) that separates two electrodes of different potentials. STATIC GROUND: A functional term describing a connection between conductive objects and a facility ground network or counterpoise for the purpose of dissipating static electricity.
The sudden transfer of electrical or electrostatic energy through the air from an object with a higher voltage (potential) to an object at a lower voltage. Usually, several thousand volts are necessary to overcome even a small air gap for a spark to occur. The goal of an ESD control program is to eliminate the chances for sparks or any other type of electrostatic discharge. See Failure Mechanism.
An electrical discharge of very short duration, normally between two conductors separated by a gas (such as air).
Momentary discharge of electrical energy due to ionization of air or other dialectric material separating two charges.