Re: Sparks (and ions)

[Hugh Logan <hlogan@ix.netcom.com>]

brian whatcott wrote:
> In Bill's interesting piece, he associates high electric field with high
>  voltage (megavolts? teravolts?)
>  In fact the field is a measure of the product of potential and distance,
> so a few volts at very close quarters can do the trick.

Don't you mean the field is the quotient of potential difference and
distance? (More precisely, the negative gradient of the potential). The
potential difference is the product of the field and the distance. (Done
more precisely with a line integral).
>  I'm sure he is aware of how easily electrostatic voltage can break down
> junctions on field effect transistors. The voltage is not so high, but the
> dimensions are very small.

Hugh Logan