Bogot, 18/08/2015

Gas Discharge Physics. First homework

Prof. Francisco Roman
1- In high voltage engineering the so called sphere-gap is used to measure voltages. In Table 5.1
you will find the disruptive voltage values obtained for different sphere diameters and sphere gap
spacing (mm) and negative polarity.
Calculate the mean electric field Em= Vd/d, where Vd is the disruptive voltage and d is the sphere Gap
Spacing.
With these results obtain the following characteristics:
a) The Vd versus d characteristic. Explain the results obtained
b) The mean electric field Em versus d characteristic. Explain the results obtained. What is the
maximum value of the mean electric field Em? How do you understand these results?

2- In Table 5.2 you will find the disruptive voltage values obtained for different sphere diameters and
sphere gap spacing (mm) and positive polarity.
Calculate the mean electric field for just the spheres of diameter 100 and 200 cm.
a) Plot and compare the characteristics Vd versus d for both spheres (100 and 200 cm) and both
polarities. Explain the results obtained.
b) Plot the obtained mean electric field for the spheres of diameter 100 and 200 cm for both
polarities. Explain your results.

----------------------------------------------------------------------Final line------------------------------------------------------------------------------