After a brief survey of the two main theories of spark breakdown in gases, an account is given of certain empirical laws relating to breakdown voltages, gap lengths and pressure of the gas. Other factors which affect measured breakdown voltages are discussed namely; humidity, Proximity of neighbouring objects, irradiation, electrode geometry and polarity of unidirectional voltages. The discussion has been confined to phenomena in air but qualitatively the conclusions reached would apply to other gases.
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