Date:         Fri, 9 Aug 2002 15:41:19 -0400
Reply-To:     David Brodbeck <gull@CYBERSPACE.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Brodbeck <gull@CYBERSPACE.ORG>
Subject:      Re: spark plugs, etc
Comments: To: Aristotle Sagan <killer_jupiter@HOTMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <F236wPQ0uWdTYWLGOnH000034ef@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Fri, 9 Aug 2002, Aristotle Sagan wrote:

> Well, no.
> "electricity "ALWAYS" follows the path of least resistance"
>
> In a parallel circuit, current will always divide according to the
> resistance in it's path (with contsant voltage). Only in the case of a
> direct short will the higher resistance be cut out completely.

That applies to most circuits, yes.  If we're talking about spark plugs,
though, the first path that ionizes the fuel/air mix in the cylinder will
suddenly have a *drastically* lower resistance than the other paths, so
the current will all flow through it.

             _ _
  __ _ _   _| | |  | David M. Brodbeck (N8SRE)              Ypsilanti, MI
 / _` | | | | | |  +-----------------------------------------------------
| (_| | |_| | | | @ cyberspace.org
 \__, |\__,_|_|_| "Geekdom is fantastic at being AGAINST something, and
 |___/             it's hopeless at being FOR something."
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