A high-power Tesla Coil for physics teaching

A Tesla Coil can be a very flashy and didactic device to illustrate and experience electromagnetism phenomena in physics classes. However, the handmade coils that we have seen in science fairs, classes and demonstrations, have usually presented an efficiency well below what is possible to achieve, if we pay attention to some theoretical and, above all, practical aspects. We present in this article the results of our extensive experimental tests and constructions, suggesting possible didactic uses of a high-power Tesla Coil with great motivating potential for use in classes and demonstrations.

Keywords:
Tesla Coil; Electromagnetism; Experiments in Physics Teaching