P 7.5-1 Nikola Tesla (1857–1943) was an American electrical engineer who experimented with electric induction. Tesla built a large coil with a very large inductance. The coil was connected to a source current

so that the inductor current i_L = i_s. Find the voltage across the inductor and explain the discharge in the air shown in the figure. Assume that L = 200 H and the average discharge distance is 2 m. Note that the dielectric strength of air is 3 × 10⁶ V/m.

Figure P7.5-1

So the electric field produced is greater than the breakdown strength of air. So air is ionized and discharges occur!!

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This page last updated on April 12, 2019