Things to do: Produce (rather unhealthy) gases
Electric discharges in air usually produce energy-rich compounds such
as ozone and nitrogen oxides. Although I havn't managed to find out
exactly which compound in which case, I differentiate three different
ones (by their smell):
- Dark discharges (spraying, continuous discharge into air without
bright light, but dark blueish glow) produce a gas (presumably ozone)
that smells kind of fresh, slightly sharp and in high concentrations
very repulsive. You can produce it "efficiently" with medium high ac
voltages applied to sharp electrodes seperated by 1mm glass
etc. However, you will notice this smell whenever you are using high
voltage sources in closed rooms (after a time), as spraying usually is
unavoidable.
- Arcs, especially when very hot (high current) and long, produce a
a different gas (presumably nitrogen oxide), that smells rather
sweetish. You will notice this smell when you've been arcing around
for some minutes.
- Very bright sparcs (e.g. when discharging a cap without
current-limiting resistor) produce yet a different smell, that I have
no clue of what it could be. It smells kind of dry. You get a similar
smell with a strong ultra-violet lamp ("sun lamp"), so it might be
produced not directly by the electric discharge, but by
the ultraviolet light such a spark emits.
CAUTION: ozone and nitrogen oxides are quite poisonous. It is not
advisable to inhale large doses of it, be it willingly (to test the
smell) or not knowingly (when just playing around). If you notice
these smells or you even get a headache, you should have a break, open
the window and leave the room.
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Jochen
Kronjaeger
Kronjaeg@stud-mailer.uni-marburg.de