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{
"title": "Tesla Coil Spark Physics: Complete Course",
"version": "1.0.0",
"author": "Tesla Coil Community",
"description": "A comprehensive course teaching the physics, mathematics, and simulation techniques required to understand and model Tesla coil sparks. From basic circuit theory to advanced distributed modeling with FEMM.",
"estimated_total_time": 840,
"total_lessons": 30,
"total_exercises": 18,
"total_points": 525,
"prerequisites": {
"required": [
"Basic AC circuit analysis (impedance, phasors)",
"Complex number arithmetic",
"Basic calculus (derivatives, integrals)",
"Familiarity with SPICE circuit simulation"
],
"recommended": [
"Electromagnetic field theory basics",
"Experience with FEMM or similar FEA software",
"Tesla coil operating experience"
]
},
"structure": [
{
"id": "part-1",
"title": "Part 1: Circuit Fundamentals",
"description": "Foundation concepts for understanding spark impedance, admittance analysis, and topological constraints",
"estimated_time": 200,
"sections": [
{
"id": "fundamentals",
"title": "Circuit Fundamentals",
"path": "lessons/01-fundamentals",
"description": "Learn the basic circuit model, admittance analysis, phase constraints, and measurement techniques",
"lessons": [
{
"id": "fund-01",
"filename": "01-introduction.md",
"title": "Introduction and AC Circuit Review",
"estimated_time": 20,
"difficulty": "beginner"
},
{
"id": "fund-02",
"filename": "02-basic-circuit-model.md",
"title": "Basic Spark Circuit Model",
"estimated_time": 25,
"difficulty": "beginner"
},
{
"id": "fund-03",
"filename": "03-admittance-analysis.md",
"title": "Admittance Analysis of Parallel Circuits",
"estimated_time": 30,
"difficulty": "intermediate"
},
{
"id": "fund-04",
"filename": "04-phase-angles.md",
"title": "Understanding Phase Angles",
"estimated_time": 20,
"difficulty": "intermediate"
},
{
"id": "fund-05",
"filename": "05-phase-constraint.md",
"title": "Topological Phase Constraint",
"estimated_time": 25,
"difficulty": "intermediate"
},
{
"id": "fund-06",
"filename": "06-why-not-45-degrees.md",
"title": "Why Not -45 Degrees?",
"estimated_time": 15,
"difficulty": "intermediate"
},
{
"id": "fund-07",
"filename": "07-measurement-port.md",
"title": "Correct Measurement Port",
"estimated_time": 20,
"difficulty": "intermediate"
},
{
"id": "fund-08",
"filename": "08-review-exercises.md",
"title": "Part 1 Review and Integration",
"estimated_time": 45,
"difficulty": "intermediate"
}
],
"exercises": [
"fund-ex-02a", "fund-ex-02b", "fund-ex-02c",
"fund-ex-03a", "fund-ex-03b",
"fund-ex-04a", "fund-ex-04b",
"fund-ex-05a",
"fund-ex-08-comprehensive",
"fund-ex-checkpoint-quiz"
],
"key_concepts": [
"mutual_capacitance",
"shunt_capacitance",
"admittance_analysis",
"phase_constraint",
"measurement_port",
"topological_limits"
]
}
]
},
{
"id": "part-2",
"title": "Part 2: Optimization & Simulation",
"description": "Learn optimization principles, Thévenin analysis, and simulation techniques for Tesla coil sparks",
"estimated_time": 280,
"sections": [
{
"id": "optimization",
"title": "Optimization & Simulation",
"path": "lessons/02-optimization",
"description": "Master power optimization, self-adjustment mechanisms, and Thévenin equivalent analysis",
"lessons": [
{
"id": "opt-01",
"filename": "01-two-resistances.md",
"title": "Two Critical Resistances",
"estimated_time": 35,
"difficulty": "intermediate"
},
{
"id": "opt-02",
"filename": "02-hungry-streamer.md",
"title": "The Hungry Streamer Principle",
"estimated_time": 30,
"difficulty": "advanced"
},
{
"id": "opt-03",
"filename": "03-thevenin-method.md",
"title": "Thévenin Equivalent Extraction",
"estimated_time": 40,
"difficulty": "intermediate"
},
{
"id": "opt-04",
"filename": "04-thevenin-calculations.md",
"title": "Power Calculations with Thévenin",
"estimated_time": 45,
"difficulty": "intermediate"
},
{
"id": "opt-05",
"filename": "05-direct-measurement.md",
"title": "Direct Power Measurement",
"estimated_time": 25,
"difficulty": "intermediate"
},
{
"id": "opt-06",
"filename": "06-frequency-tracking.md",
"title": "Frequency Tracking and Loaded Poles",
"estimated_time": 45,
"difficulty": "advanced"
},
{
"id": "opt-07",
"filename": "07-review-exercises.md",
"title": "Part 2 Review and Design Challenge",
"estimated_time": 60,
"difficulty": "intermediate"
}
],
"exercises": [
"opt-ex-01a",
"opt-ex-01b",
"opt-ex-thevenin-complete"
],
"key_concepts": [
"R_opt_power",
"R_opt_phase",
"hungry_streamer",
"thevenin_equivalent",
"frequency_tracking",
"loaded_poles",
"power_optimization"
]
}
]
},
{
"id": "part-3",
"title": "Part 3: Spark Growth Physics",
"description": "Understand the physics of spark formation, growth, and energy requirements",
"estimated_time": 260,
"sections": [
{
"id": "spark-physics",
"title": "Spark Growth Physics",
"path": "lessons/03-spark-physics",
"description": "Master electric field thresholds, energy per meter, thermal dynamics, and streamer-to-leader transitions",
"lessons": [
{
"id": "phys-01",
"filename": "01-field-thresholds.md",
"title": "Electric Field Thresholds",
"estimated_time": 20,
"difficulty": "intermediate"
},
{
"id": "phys-02",
"filename": "02-voltage-limits.md",
"title": "Voltage-Limited Spark Length",
"estimated_time": 25,
"difficulty": "intermediate"
},
{
"id": "phys-03",
"filename": "03-energy-per-meter.md",
"title": "Energy Per Meter Concept",
"estimated_time": 30,
"difficulty": "intermediate"
},
{
"id": "phys-04",
"filename": "04-empirical-epsilon.md",
"title": "Empirical ε Values by Mode",
"estimated_time": 35,
"difficulty": "advanced"
},
{
"id": "phys-05",
"filename": "05-thermal-memory.md",
"title": "Thermal Memory and Persistence",
"estimated_time": 40,
"difficulty": "advanced"
},
{
"id": "phys-06",
"filename": "06-streamers-vs-leaders.md",
"title": "Streamers vs Leaders",
"estimated_time": 35,
"difficulty": "advanced"
},
{
"id": "phys-07",
"filename": "07-capacitive-divider.md",
"title": "The Capacitive Divider Problem",
"estimated_time": 30,
"difficulty": "advanced"
},
{
"id": "phys-08",
"filename": "08-freau-relationship.md",
"title": "Freau's Empirical Scaling",
"estimated_time": 25,
"difficulty": "intermediate"
},
{
"id": "phys-09",
"filename": "09-review-exercises.md",
"title": "Part 3 Review and QCW Design",
"estimated_time": 20,
"difficulty": "advanced"
}
],
"exercises": [
"phys-ex-01a",
"phys-ex-03a",
"phys-ex-comprehensive",
"phys-ex-conceptual-limits"
],
"key_concepts": [
"E_inception",
"E_propagation",
"energy_per_meter",
"epsilon_calibration",
"thermal_diffusion",
"streamers",
"leaders",
"capacitive_divider",
"voltage_limited",
"power_limited"
]
}
]
},
{
"id": "part-4",
"title": "Part 4: Advanced Modeling",
"description": "Learn FEMM extraction techniques and build lumped and distributed spark models",
"estimated_time": 285,
"sections": [
{
"id": "advanced-modeling",
"title": "Advanced Modeling Techniques",
"path": "lessons/04-advanced-modeling",
"description": "Master FEMM capacitance extraction, lumped models, distributed models, and resistance optimization",
"lessons": [
{
"id": "model-01",
"filename": "01-lumped-model.md",
"title": "Lumped Spark Model Theory",
"estimated_time": 35,
"difficulty": "advanced"
},
{
"id": "model-02",
"filename": "02-femm-extraction-lumped.md",
"title": "FEMM Extraction for Lumped Model",
"estimated_time": 50,
"difficulty": "advanced"
},
{
"id": "model-03",
"filename": "03-distributed-model.md",
"title": "Distributed Model Introduction",
"estimated_time": 40,
"difficulty": "advanced"
},
{
"id": "model-04",
"filename": "04-femm-extraction-distributed.md",
"title": "FEMM Extraction for Distributed Model",
"estimated_time": 55,
"difficulty": "advanced"
},
{
"id": "model-05",
"filename": "05-resistance-optimization.md",
"title": "Resistance Optimization Algorithms",
"estimated_time": 55,
"difficulty": "advanced"
},
{
"id": "model-06",
"filename": "06-review-exercises.md",
"title": "Part 4 Review and Complete Project",
"estimated_time": 50,
"difficulty": "advanced"
}
],
"exercises": [
"model-ex-lumped-complete"
],
"key_concepts": [
"lumped_model",
"distributed_model",
"FEMM_extraction",
"Maxwell_capacitance_matrix",
"partial_capacitance",
"resistance_optimization",
"iterative_algorithm",
"circuit_determined_R",
"passivity_check",
"matrix_validation"
]
}
]
}
],
"reference_materials": {
"equation_sheet": "reference/equation-sheet.md",
"physical_bounds": "reference/physical-bounds.md",
"glossary": "reference/glossary.yaml"
},
"worked_examples": {
"path": "worked-examples",
"examples": [
"calculating-ropt.md",
"thevenin-extraction.md",
"spark-growth-timeline.md",
"femm-lumped-extraction.md",
"distributed-model-complete.md"
]
},
"learning_paths": [
{
"id": "beginner",
"title": "Beginner Path",
"description": "For those new to Tesla coils or RF circuit analysis",
"lessons": [
"fund-01", "fund-02", "fund-03", "fund-04", "fund-06", "fund-07", "fund-08",
"opt-01", "opt-03", "opt-04",
"phys-01", "phys-02", "phys-03", "phys-08"
],
"skip": ["opt-02", "opt-06", "phys-04", "phys-05", "phys-06", "phys-07", "part-4"]
},
{
"id": "intermediate",
"title": "Complete Course",
"description": "Full course for comprehensive understanding",
"lessons": "all"
},
{
"id": "simulation-focus",
"title": "Simulation Focus",
"description": "For those primarily interested in modeling and simulation",
"lessons": [
"fund-01", "fund-02", "fund-03", "fund-05", "fund-08",
"opt-01", "opt-03", "opt-04", "opt-05", "opt-06",
"phys-01", "phys-02", "phys-03", "phys-04",
"model-01", "model-02", "model-03", "model-04", "model-05"
]
},
{
"id": "physics-focus",
"title": "Physics Focus",
"description": "For those primarily interested in spark physics",
"lessons": [
"fund-01", "fund-02", "fund-03",
"opt-01", "opt-02",
"phys-01", "phys-02", "phys-03", "phys-04", "phys-05", "phys-06", "phys-07", "phys-08", "phys-09"
]
}
],
"tags": {
"circuit-theory": ["fund-01", "fund-02", "fund-03", "fund-04", "fund-05", "fund-07"],
"admittance": ["fund-03", "fund-04", "opt-01", "opt-03"],
"optimization": ["opt-01", "opt-02", "opt-03", "opt-04", "opt-05", "opt-06"],
"thevenin": ["opt-03", "opt-04"],
"frequency-tracking": ["opt-06"],
"field-theory": ["phys-01", "phys-02", "phys-07"],
"energy-budget": ["phys-03", "phys-04", "phys-08"],
"thermal-physics": ["phys-05", "phys-06"],
"plasma-physics": ["phys-06"],
"FEMM": ["model-02", "model-04"],
"modeling": ["model-01", "model-02", "model-03", "model-04", "model-05"],
"SPICE": ["opt-05", "model-01", "model-04", "model-05"],
"advanced": ["opt-02", "opt-06", "phys-04", "phys-05", "phys-06", "phys-07", "model-01", "model-02", "model-03", "model-04", "model-05"]
},
"metadata": {
"created": "2025-10-10",
"last_updated": "2025-10-10",
"format_version": "1.0",
"license": "Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0",
"repository": "https://github.com/your-repo/spark-lessons"
}
}