[Amps] Risks from continuous discharge of high voltage ??

[Fuqua, Bill L]

One other thing. This process will produce lots of light including UV.

________________________________________
From: amps-bounces at contesting.com [amps-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Fuqua, Bill L [wlfuqu00 at uky.edu]
Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2011 2:21 PM
To: ka4inm at tampabay.rr.com; amps
Subject: Re: [Amps] Risks from continuous discharge of high voltage ??

  X-rays are produced when high energy electrons or protons strike certain materials.
Actually any elements will produce x-rays if the electrons or protons have enough energy.
X-ray tubes use metalic anodes that produce the X-rays at farly at much slower electrons than
many of the other elements. Protons are usually used for elemental analysis Google PIXIE.
  The point is there is a reason for the vacuum in an X-ray tube. That is, the electrons must not
strike any gas molecules before they get to the anode. Otherwise they loose energy and don't
produce the X-rays.  An arc is produced becasue the mean-free path distance is just long enough
for the electron to be accelerated to enough to strike a molecule and either doubly ionize it or produce an extra electron  and you have
a sort of chain reaction (avalanche). One electron produces two and two produce four etc.
  The energy required to do this is much less than that required to produce X-rays.
  Each time an electron strikes a molecule or atom the acceleration process starts over again.
73
Bill wa4lav


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From: amps-bounces at contesting.com [amps-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Ron Youvan [ka4inm at tampabay.rr.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2011 8:58 AM
To: amps
Subject: Re: [Amps] Risks from continuous discharge of high voltage ??

Dr. David Kirkby wrote:

> There's an ebay auction for a 100 kV transformer from an x-ray set.

> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190544288962

> I mentioned to the seller he should warn people of possible production of
> x-rays. He does not think this possible and I must admit I'm not sure if its
> possible without a vacuum. But I've also suggested that it could produce UV and
> ozone.

   The production of X-rays requires something that does not exist in a transformer or the
transformers would be lined with lead sheeting.  Which is: "a high velocity stream of electrons that
changes speed abruptly."

> It's clearly being sold as a fun experiment:

> "Dangerous but great fun and ideal for lots of interesting experiments."

> But at 100 kV, I'm wondering what dangers there are apart from the obvious one
> of electrocution.

   Like setting the house on fire.

> Somehow I would not want to be playing around too much with 100 kV and drawing
> big arcs, but perhaps I'm over reacting.

   I think a Van de Graaff generator would be at least 10,000 times safer.

> I've suggested he ads a note that there may be other dangers other than
> electrocution.
--
    Ron  KA4INM - Madam, there's no such thing as a tough child -- if you parboil them
                  first for seven hours, they always come out tender.  -- W. C. Fields
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