air gap

American  

noun

1. Electricity. the space between two objects magnetically related, as between the rotor and the stator in a dynamo, or between two objects electrically related, as between the electrode and the tip of a spark plug.

---

Etymology

Origin of air gap

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

If you have an air gap, some of the heat goes down, not up.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 25, 2024

Its fire resistance comes from a two-layer construction, with an air gap in between for added insulation.

From Scientific American • Jul. 25, 2022

Removing the existing drywall would increase the depth of the air gap between the units, and adding two layers of thick drywall would boost the mass, he said.

From Washington Post • Jun. 20, 2022

But some smaller and locally focused electricity providers fall short in creating an impenetrable wall around industrial controls, often referred to as an air gap.

From Washington Times • Oct. 11, 2017

Thus the continuity of the magnetic circuit is practically unbroken save for the air gap.

From Hawkins Electrical Guide, Number One Questions, Answers, & Illustrations, A Progressive Course of Study for Engineers, Electricians, Students and Those Desiring to acquire a Working Knowledge of Electricity and its Applications by Hawkins, Nehemiah