Electric Arc Noise

[sergeidave]

Hi guys,

 

I just remembered a question that bugged me for a few days, months ago. I was watching cool youtube videos of the electric arc phenomenon and I noticed that the noise they produce was always a "b flat" (musically speaking). Does this mean that the frequency of the waves that the electric arc is producing is always the same, independently from the source? Why is it always the same?

I mean, in one video there's a huge arc more than a meter across making a thick b-flat tone/noise, and other videos showing smaller arcs from different sources on different places, but all of them producing b-flats!!

Did I, by a strange coincidence found only the ones producing b-flats or is there a pattern when it comes to the noise produced by electric arcs?

 

Thanks!

 

David

[GDG]

My guess is that they're all powered by transformers that are plugged into 60 Hz AC lines. Bb is a little over 58 Hz.

[dirtyamerica]

Now try to find a youtube video filmed in Europe where they use 50Hz AC.

[gre]

I think the coils can hum/ring (maybe the arc as well) at the frequency which they are pulsed. The particular coils you were watching might all have the same resonant frequencies, which is why they all had the same "pitch", I'd guess.

[lifestream]

Also if you have noticed, it is possible to generate music too, by changing resonant frequencies i assume (never looked in depth into it) - so not all arcs generate same pitch noise.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3cc_1182393477

[Shadow]

 

Here ya go ) (The fun starts at 0:45)

[h4tt3n]

Yeah, that rocked! Cool vid

[sergeidave]

Thanks, guys!!