Corona discharge with a discharge current of a few hundred microamperes can blow out a small candle flame within about 1 cm of a discharge point. A pinwheel, with radial metal spokes and pointed tips bent to point along the circumference of a circle, can be made to rotate if energized by a corona discharge; the rotation is due to differential electric attraction between the metal spokes and the space charge shield region that surrounds the tips. Corona discharge A corona discharge is an electrical discharge brought on by the ionization of a fluid such as air surrounding a conductor that is
Electric discharge in gases Electric discharge in gases Electric discharge in gases occurs when electric current flows through a gaseous medium due to ionization of the gas. Depending on several factors, the discharge may radiate visible light. The properties of electric discharges in gases are studied in connection with design of lighting sources and in the design of high voltage electrical equipment. In cold cathode tubes, the electric discharge in gas has three regions, with distinct current-voltage characteristics: Glow discharge is facilitated by electrons striking the gas atoms and ionizing them. For formation of glow discharge, the mean free path of the electrons has