What Causes the Color of Electric Sparks?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the nature of electric sparks and the reasons behind their characteristic colors. Participants explore the physical phenomena involved, including the heating of air and the effects of different materials, such as copper, on the observed colors. The scope includes conceptual explanations and some technical reasoning related to the emission of light from sparks.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the color of electric sparks is primarily due to the heated air, which can appear white when hot enough, similar to the sun's temperature.
  • Another participant notes that sparks can appear green due to the vaporization of copper wire, which emits green wavelengths when it burns.
  • A question is raised about the appearance of blue sparks, prompting further clarification on the sources of color.
  • A later reply corrects an earlier claim, stating that air density is insufficient for noticeable black body emission from plasma and emphasizes that most sparks appear white due to brightness saturation.
  • It is mentioned that blue coloration in sparks arises from emission lines of oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the air, while green is attributed to copper emissions.
  • Another participant seeks clarification on the composition of sparks and the underlying causes of their formation and color.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints regarding the causes of color in electric sparks, with no consensus reached on a singular explanation. Multiple competing explanations are presented, particularly concerning the contributions of different materials and the role of air composition.

Contextual Notes

Some claims rely on assumptions about the conditions under which sparks are observed, and the discussion does not fully resolve the complexities of the phenomena involved.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those exploring the physics of electric phenomena, materials science, or anyone curious about the visual aspects of sparks in electrical contexts.

Godwin Kessy
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What are really these electric sparks and why do they attain a characteristic color?
 
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The bit you see is the heated air. The characterstic color is either white simply because it is hot enough to be the same temperature as the sun (or near enough for our eyes) and so looks white.

Or sometimes green because it has vapourised some of the copper wire and copper emits a green wavelength when it burns
 
What about blue?
 
Oops I was wrong.
Air isn't dense enough to give a noticeable black body emission from a plasma.
Most sparks appear white simply because they are bright enough to saturate your eye's color sense.

The blue color is from the emission lines of oxygen/nitrogen molecules in the air, but green is from the copper.
 
thanks mgb
 
Hey mr. Whats actualy is a spark ie what composes sparks and what actualy causes sparks and why?

what i get you is that heating effect due sparking causes the characteristic color
 

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