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Sparking

Sparking is the brief electrical discharge that occurs when a current crosses a gap between two conductive electrodes, ionizing the surrounding gas and forming a conductive plasma. Sparks are transient events that produce light, heat, and sound and may occur in switches, relays, circuit breakers, or in high-voltage equipment when insulation is compromised.

In electronic equipment, sparking can be due to contact bounce, contamination, or insulation failure; it can

Sparking is essential in spark-ignition engines; a spark from a spark plug ignites the air-fuel mixture.

Sparks also occur in metalworking, for example during grinding or wire brushing, and controlled sparking is

Safety and prevention: use proper enclosures, spark suppressors, guards, and moisture control; ensure equipment is properly

cause
wear,
electromagnetic
interference,
or
insulation
damage;
arcing
warnings.
used
in
electrical
discharge
machining
to
shape
metals.
rated
for
the
environment
and
kept
free
of
flammable
vapors.