Sharp discharge

Explain to participants the principle and conditions under which tip discharge occurs through the discharge phenomenon between tip needles.

Interaction type: Electromechanical, hands-on. The unit is designed for unsupervised public use: controls are recessed or shielded, moving parts are enclosed, and the interface is operable by a child of about six with no instruction. Where a screen is used, the language can be switched without changing the hardware, and the content can be replaced on site.

The exhibit consists of a platform and a rotating mechanism. Sharp discharge is a discharge phenomenon that occurs in sharp parts of an object under the action of a strong electric field. The charge at the tip of a conductor is particularly dense, and the electric field near the tip is particularly strong, leading to tip discharge. The principle is that sharp points of an object have a large curvature and dense electric power lines, resulting in a large potential gradient and causing partial gas breakdown and discharge in the vicinity.