El-14 Saint Elmo's Fire

Aim

To demonstrate the phenonemon of Saint Elmos Fire.

Apparatus

  • Backing Pump
  • Bell Jar and stand
  • Tesla coil
  • Model airplane (metal)
  • VideoFlex camera

St. Elmos Fire 1 St. Elmos Fire 2

Aeroplane Glowing with increasing vacuum left to right.

Description

Saint Elmo's Fire is associated with the glow discharge from sailing ships (Moby Dick). In this demonstration a model plane is placed in an evacuation chamber and attached to a Tesla coil. The discharge is observed as the vacuum is increased. The attached pictures show the discharge as it changes from essentially streamers originating from the wing tips and other point objects to a continuous glow as the vacuum proceeds.

Video

Safety Notes

Saint Elmos Fire SOP-11