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Optics

Arc Lighter

Start with the video, then use the science notes and recommended parts below to follow the idea behind the build.

OpticsBuildHigh voltage

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How it works

What this project is testing.

An arc lighter works because air stops being a good insulator when the electric field gets intense enough. The air breaks down into plasma, which conducts and glows.

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The experiment demonstrates dielectric breakdown, electric-field concentration at sharp points, and why gap distance matters.

E \approx \frac{V}{d}

For a simple gap, electric field strength grows with voltage and shrinks with distance.

V_{b r e ak d o w n} \approx E_{b r e ak d o w n} d

A larger gap generally needs a larger voltage before air breaks down.

Recommended parts

Products used in this project.

Affiliate links may earn Keystone Science a commission. Match ratings, values, sizes, polarity, and safety requirements to your own build before buying.

Amazon Basics 8-Pack 9V Long-Lasting Alkaline Batteries for Smoke Detector, Electronics & Audio, Reliable, 5-Year Shelf Life

batterypower

Amazon Basics 8-Pack 9V Long-Lasting Alkaline Batteries

$12.694.7(242K)

General electronics battery pick; choose AA/AAA variants when the circuit calls for them.

YIHUA 926 III 60W Digital Display Soldering Iron Station Kit w 2 Helping Hands, 6 Extra Iron Tips, Lead-Free Solder, Solder Sucker, S/S Tweezers, °C/ºF Conversion, Auto Sleep & Calibration Support

soldering ironfabrication

YIHUA 926 III 60W Digital Display Soldering Iron Station Kit

$39.994.4(6,900)

BOJACK 3 Values 130 Pcs Solderless Breadboard 4 Pcs 830 Tie Points & 400 Tie Points & 126 Pcs Flexible Breadboard Jumper Wires

breadboardprototyping

BOJACK Solderless Breadboard Kit with 830/400 Tie-Point Boards and Flexible Jumper Wires

$9.994.4(692)

EDGELEC 120pcs Breadboard Jumper Wires 20cm Wire Length Optional Dupont Cable Assorted Kit Male to Female Multicolored Ribbon Cables

jumper wires / hookup wirewiring

120pcs Breadboard Jumper Wires, 20cm Dupont Cable Assorted Kit, Male to Female

$6.984.7(4,500)

BOJACK 1000 Pcs 25 Values Resistor Kit 1 Ohm-1M Ohm with 5% 1/4W Carbon Film Resistors Assortment

resistorpassive electronics

BOJACK 1000 Pcs 25-Value 1/4W Carbon Film Resistor Assortment Kit, 1 ohm-1M ohm

$9.994.7(4,500)

BOJACK 10 Values 250 Pcs A1015 BC327 BC337 C1815 S8050 S8550 2N2222 2N2907 2N3904 2N3906 PNP NPN Power General Purpose Transistors Assortment Kit

transistor / MOSFETsemiconductor

BOJACK 10-Value 250 Pcs PNP/NPN General Purpose Transistor Assortment Kit

$8.994.7(763)

BOJACK 20 Values 200 Pcs Inductor 10 uH to 10 mH 1 W Color Ring Inductor 1 Watt Assortment Kit

inductor / coilpassive electronics

20 Values 200 Pcs Inductor Assortment Kit, 1uH to 4.7mH, 0.5W Color Ring Inductors

$13.994.8(182)

12V 2A Power Supply, AC 120V to DC12V 5.5x2.1mm Jack Converter, 12 Volt LED Driver 24W Adapter Transformer for Strip Lights, Surveillance Cameras, External HDD, Monitor, CCTV (Pack of 1)

transformerpower

12V 2A Power Supply, AC 120V to DC12V 5.5x2.1mm Adapter Transformer

$8.994.5(6,601)

General low-voltage transformer/adapter pick; match voltage/current and connector to the circuit.

Tolako 5v Relay Module 5V Indicator Light LED 1 Channel Relay Module for Arduino ARM PIC AVR MCU

relay / switchcontrol

5V 1-Channel Relay Module with Indicator LED for Arduino, ARM, PIC, AVR, and MCU Projects

$5.694.6(381)

MECCANIXITY Graphite Block Ingot Rectangle Graphite Electrode Plate Board 100x20x5mm for Melting Casting, Electrolysis Electroplating, Pack of 5

electrodeschemistry/electrical

MECCANIXITY Graphite Electrode Plate Board, 100x20x5mm, Pack of 5

$9.394.6(53)

Good functional match, but sparse Amazon review evidence. Review requirements and safety guidance before buying.

WOWOONE Laser Diode 30Pcs 5V 650nm 5mW Mini Red Dot Laser Head, 6mm Outer Diameter Laser Module with Leads, for Arduino Laser DIY Electronics Projects, High-Stability Red Laser Diode

laser / laser pointeroptics

30pcs 5V 650nm 5mW Mini Red Dot Laser Diode Modules with Leads

$12.994.6(152)

Laser safety matters. Keep recommendations to low-power modules and add eye-safety warnings. Review requirements and safety guidance before buying.

RUEHALF Front Surface Mirrors, 100 * 100 * 3mm First 1st Surface Mirror,Surface Mirror Optics Quality for Engineering and Scientific Project

mirroroptics

Front Surface Mirror, 100 x 100 x 3mm, First Surface Optics Quality Mirror

$19.04

For interferometer/optics use, prefer first-surface mirrors over bathroom/craft mirrors. Amazon review evidence is sparse. Review requirements and safety guidance before buying.

Optical Glass Cube Dichroic Beam Splitter Prism Ratio 50:50 Spectrome Sicence 15X15X15MM

beam splitteroptics

Optical Glass Cube Dichroic Beam Splitter Prism, 50:50, 15x15x15mm

$13.994.8(17)

Specialty optics have fewer Amazon reviews; verify size and wavelength before publishing. Review requirements and safety guidance before buying.

$Physics Optical Experiment Set Multifunction Reflector Refraction Triangular Prism Convex Lens Concave Mirror Dial Linear Light Source Teaching Demonstration Equipment for Teacher Student Education$

lensoptics

Physics Optical Experiment Set with Prism, Convex Lens, Concave Mirror, and Linear Light Source

$18.994.3(198)

Specialty optics may need size and focal-length review before publishing.

5PCS 3.3V-5V Photodiode Module LM393 Light Sensor Switch Module for Arduino Raspberry Pi Photosensitive Diode Detection Switch

photodetector / photodiodesensor

5PCS 3.3V-5V Photodiode Module LM393 Light Sensor Switch Module

$7.995.0(4)

Good functional match for a photodiode module, but it has sparse Amazon review evidence. Review requirements and safety guidance before buying.

ZVS Driver Module 12V to 30V DC High Voltage Generator with Flyback Transformer Heater Coil Boost Power Supply Board for Induction Heating

flyback transformerhigh voltage

ZVS Driver Module with Flyback Transformer, 12V-30V DC High Voltage Generator

$37.504.4(55)

High-voltage specialty part. Review ratings and safety language before public recommendation. Review requirements and safety guidance before buying.

Project files

Prints, kits, and downloads.

Diagrams, printable files, kits, or companion downloads will appear here when they are ready to use.

Coming soon

Contact

Events, speaking, collaborations, and news.

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