An electric arc is a sustained electrical discharge through an ionized gas, carrying substantial electric current in a conducting plasma channel. Heating and ionization maintain conductivity after the initial breakdown. An arc can join electrodes even though the cold gas between them is normally a poor conductor. In arc welding, the discharge supplies heat to a joint; in a switch, an unintended arc can prolong current after contacts separate. Its current-voltage characteristic can differ strongly from an ordinary resistor, so replacing it by one fixed resistance can miss the discharge dynamics.
An electric arc is a luminous electrical discharge that occurs when current flows through a gas, such as air, between two electrodes. This process typically happens when the potential difference (voltage) between the electrodes is high enough to ionize the gas, which allows electrical conduction. The arc produces a bright light and significant heat, making it useful for various applications, including welding, lighting, and electrical discharges in circuits.
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