This is the same phenomenon as Jacob's Ladder. Once the arc is formed (i.e., the air is ionized), it is easier for the electricity to follow the existing arc than it is to form a new one through unionized air. However, the ionized air is hot and expands so that it is less dense than the surrounding air. That makes it float up, just like flames from a fire.
So the arc moves up and gets longer until it requires more voltage to maintain than is available. It breaks. Then if enough voltage is available, a new arc forms. In this case, the bar has moved so far (on purpose) so that a new arc cannot form and the circuit is broken.
A smaller example is the Jacob's ladder that you could see in the old 1930s Frankenstein movies. You can sometimes buy small ones at novelty shops. This is much bigger, and much cooler.
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This is the same phenomenon as Jacob's Ladder. Once the arc is formed (i.e., the air is ionized), it is easier for the electricity to follow the existing arc than it is to form a new one through unionized air. However, the ionized air is hot and expands so that it is less dense than the surrounding air. That makes it float up, just like flames from a fire.
So the arc moves up and gets longer until it requires more voltage to maintain than is available. It breaks. Then if enough voltage is available, a new arc forms. In this case, the bar has moved so far (on purpose) so that a new arc cannot form and the circuit is broken.
A smaller example is the Jacob's ladder that you could see in the old 1930s Frankenstein movies. You can sometimes buy small ones at novelty shops. This is much bigger, and much cooler.
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