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Electric Arc & Plasma: Dielectric Breakdown (2D)

2D electric-arc lab: a Paschen-style breakdown-field model drives jagged fractal arcs between two electrodes, with live voltage, gap and turbulence controls and a real-time field-strength readout.

Electromagnetism2DModerate60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version

This 2D companion drives the same breakdown-field idea as the 3D arc: electrode tips are fixed a fixed distance apart, and a field strength E = voltage ÷ gap is compared against air's approximate dielectric strength (~30 kV/cm). Once E clears that threshold, jagged fractal bolts — built with the same midpoint-displacement algorithm as the 3D version — strike between the tips with flicker and trailing sparks; below it, strikes become rare and dim.

⚙ Under the hood

Canvas2D midpoint-displacement lightning between two electrodes, gated by a Paschen-style breakdown-field check (voltage ÷ gap vs. air's dielectric strength) that drives strike frequency and brightness.

electric arcplasmadielectric breakdownpaschen's lawionization

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install