Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi,
I am doing the project How far can sparks jump. I need help finding how it is related in real life. Please help me!!
Soccersparks

Some real life appplications of this concept. Some are pretty unusual.

Old-style automobiles (those with carburator and spark plugs, rather than fuel injection). These generated a spark that ignited the gasoline in the pistons. If the spark plugs were burned out or "tuned" incorrectly, the car would perform badly or not start at all.

Static electricity - rub your feet on a thick rug and put your finger near something metal. This is something everyone has experienced. How close you have to get before you are shocked is a matter of charge built up and what you're touching.

Gas stoves with electric pilot lights. When you turn on a stove like this, you hear a "snap snap snap" sound. That is a spark being generated that should ignite the gas. There are cigarette lighters that use a similar principle, to ignite the lighter fluid. These usually have a special kind of material in them that when squeezed generates electricity.

A Fuse works on this principle, sort of. Get a power surge and it arcs across the inside of the fuse. The fuse is designed to have that portion melt when this happens and break the circuit, protecting more expensive equipment downstream. This is a "spark" jumping in something that is not air, but it is the same idea...enough of a spike to exceed the resistance of the fuse, rather than the gap of air.