Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Effect of Humidity on the Breakdown of a 1-cm. Homogeneous Field Spark Gap in Air

Nature volume 183, pages 532–533 (1959)Cite this article

Abstract

THE effect of humidity on the breakdown voltage of a homogeneous field spark gap in air has been reported in a previous communication1. The increase in voltage with humidity agrees with the results of Ritz2 and Köhrmann3 for homogeneous fields, but it is greater than the figure of 0.13 per cent increase per mm. mercury of water found by Lewis4 for a 0.4-cm. gap between 2-cm. diam. spheres. It is important to know the actual breakdown voltage of a 1-cm. gap not only from the point of view of attempting to understand the mechanism of a spark but also from the more practical application in high-voltage engineering.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Allen, K. R., and Phillips, K., Nature, 183, 174 (1959).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ritz, H., Arch. Elektrotech., 26, 219 (1932).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Köhrmann, W., Ann. Phys., Leipzig, 18, 379 (1956).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Lewis, A. B., J. App. Phys., 10, 573 (1939).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Klemm, A., Arch. Elektrotech., 12, 553 (1923).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Schumann, W. O., Arch. Elektrotech., 11, 1 (1922).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Spath, W., Arch. Elektrotech., 12, 331 (1923).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Holzer, W., Arch. Elektrotech., 26, 865 (1932).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Fisher, L. H., Phys. Rev., 72, 423 (1947).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bruce, F. M., J. Inst. Elect. Eng., 94, Pt. 2, 69 (1947).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Department, Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co., Ltd., Trafford Park, Manchester, 17

    K. PHILLIPS, K. R. ALLEN & A. REFSUM

Authors
  1. K. PHILLIPS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. R. ALLEN
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. REFSUM
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

PHILLIPS, K., ALLEN, K. & REFSUM, A. Effect of Humidity on the Breakdown of a 1-cm. Homogeneous Field Spark Gap in Air. Nature 183, 532–533 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1038/183532a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/183532a0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing