The original statement is true..and accurate. Just not quite definative.
The multi- point plugs...do nothing more than increase
surface area where a spark could jump.
To be accurate... what you would see visually watching a mutli-point plug
( IE: firing/arcing) to more than one point has to do with many variables.
Yes... electricity will ALWAYS seek the path of least resistance.
A Spark ...., just like lightning is a slightly differerent story.
As a spark plug fires, the arc jump instantaniously heats the air space
it traveled through as well as the finite spot of metal where it passed.
The warmer air path has a lower resistance, but the metal's resistance
rises at that finite spot of contact.
As a result, other spots along the length of the electrode now have a
lower resistance than the last spark point.
More electrode exposure area, within the same distance to the center electrode
just results in a more consistant arc power level.
...IN THEORY.
If you run a high spark plug...firing continuously... you'd see a spark that
'dances' around
at it's point of contact.
The idea of 'the path of least resistance' can be visually observed...as the
spark reaches the
electrode, One large spark, will 'branch out' like tree roots within
sub-millimeter
dimensions the surface of the electrode.
Once again other factors contributing to all the 'overboard techno babble'
is how strong the spark is to begin with, vs. the spark gap distance.
...and on...and on...and on....
Paul Tegler
1973 BGT - Daily Driver
1975 Spitfire -in Cherry Shape 1980 Spitfire w/ O/D - in re-hab
GT6 MKIII - in the works
email: wizardz@toad.net http://www.teglerizer.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Matt Pringle <pringlmm@mcmaster.ca>
To: Johnmowog@aol.com <Johnmowog@aol.com>
Cc: mgs@autox.team.net <mgs@autox.team.net>
Date: Wednesday, August 04, 1999 9:40 AM
Subject: Re: spark plugs
Ummm, I think I have to disagree here.
I've heard this pseudo-theory more times than I care to remember.
No where in electrical theory (or practice) does electricity seek the
path of least resistance, this is an old wives tale. If I have several
parallel paths of electrical flow, certainly more current will flow
through the path with the least resistance but electricity will most
definately flow through all paths.
As you state, it is just like water, if you flush the toilet, have the
shower on and turn on the sink faucet, water will flow through all of
them but in differing amounts.
> There's lots of what I term "gimmick" plugs out now with multiple electrodes,
> be it 2,3,or4.. The only problem with these is that basic electrical theory
> states that electricity, like water, seeks the path of least resistance. This
> means that it's likely that what will happen with these multi-path plugs is
> that only one conducter is ever actually working, until it wears enough that
> the path to the next one is now easier, ad infinitum. (unless by some freak
> chance each electrode was exactly the same distance and electrical resistance
> as the next)
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