A spark plug (sometimes, in British English, a sparking plug, and, colloquially, a plug) is a device for delivering electric current from an ignition system to the combustion chamber of a spark-ignition engine to ignite the compressed fuel/air mixture by an electric spark, while containing combustion pressure within the engine. A spark plug has a metal threaded shell, electrically isolated from a central electrode by a ceramic insulator. The central electrode, which may contain a resistor, is connected by a heavily insulated wire to the output terminal of an ignition coil or magneto. The spark plug's metal shell is screwed into the engine's cylinder head and thus electrically grounded. The central electrode protrudes through the porcelain insulator into the combustion chamber, forming one or more spark gaps between the inner end of the central electrode and usually one or more protuberances or structures attached to the inner end of the threaded shell and designated the side, earth, or ground electrode(s).
Spark plugs may also be used for other purposes; in Saab Direct Ignition when they are not firing, spark plugs are used to measure ionization in the cylinders – this ionic current measurement is used to replace the ordinary cam phase sensor, knock sensor and misfire measurement function. Spark plugs may also be used in other applications such as furnaces wherein a combustible fuel/air mixture must be ignited. In this case, they are sometimes referred to as flame igniters.
If someday complete direct injection spark ignition with gasoline engine with Otto cycle is achieved so that very high pressure ratios are possible, what would be the impact on the automotive industry?
Hey i was wondering if anyone had any sites on how to build a Spark Gap Radio Transmitter, i need to do this for history to show how marconi invented the radio. Thanks- Andrew
Hi, i live in the UK and currently studying physics at A-level. I have chosen to investigate EMP and its effect on electrical systems for a project. How would i build a generator? Am i right in saying all i would need is a fairly large capacitor and a spark gap? What sized voltage are we talking...
Hey, I just signed up and I've already got a question. =)
The answer was in the book but I don't get the answer.
Determie the frequency of a spark timer set at a period of 0.10s.
Ans: 1.0 x 10¹ Hz.
The book only says;
The answer is literally staring me right in the face and the...
in one of my electronics classes, as a group we have to design and build a transmitter and receiver to transmit and receive morse code. we can only use a tesla coil and/or a spark gap for transmission. since we have 3 in our group... i am making the spark gap, someone else - a tesla coil, and...
just a quick question on spark timers, mostly on ticker tape. I need a reminder on how to calculate the acceleration on the tape. i know i need to take a time measurement and the distance between the dots on the tape but from there do i need to calculate intervals or what? I'm using the...
I read this in Feynman's book 'Surely you are joking Mr.Feynman' but I didn't understand it.
'If you close an electrical switch, there will be a spark shortly before the contact is made. If you don't want any spark, just put a capacitor across the switch.'
My question: Why does a capacitor...