How Do Tesla Coils Create High Voltage and Precise Discharges on AGT?

[superaznnerd]

http://www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent/video/week-1-night-2/1232101/

watch starting around 5:35...'

explanation??

 

[pgardn]

http://www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent/video/week-1-night-2/1232101/

watch starting around 5:35...'

explanation??

Two tesla coils:

Designed to build up very high voltages using tranformers, capacitors, spark gaps and coils of wire. The big coil (yep its an enormous coil of wire) in the middle builds up a very high voltage due to the change in flux of the magnetic field produced by the smaller coil not really noticeable. There is some feedback between the coils that I think is kinda complex, but a very high voltage results.

The guy in the middle was basically in a Faraday cage (chain maille) and when he put his hand closer to one or the other Tesla coil it discharged and of course quickly recharged.

The fairly amazing thing to me is the timing of the discharges.