Re: Treenails??

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Ed Phillips by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <evp-at-pacbell-dot-net>

Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "Tuite, Tom by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>"
<TTuite-at-ALLEGROMICRO-dot-com>
> 
> I think also an important thing may be not to use "pointed" screws.  Use
> instead the ones with flat tips.  I can't remeber the exact physics behind
> this, but its the same reason why lightning rods are pointed.  Come to think
> of it, does any one recall the physics behind that (I think it can still be
> considered quasi-on-topic :) ).

	Simple physics.  The voltage gradient (volts per centimeter, foot,
mile, etc.) is higher at the tip of a pointed rod than at the tip of a
flat one.  Since the ionization of the air depends on that gradient, for
a given voltage the breakdown will occur more easily with the pointed
jobbie.

Ed