////: /,'N: THE ^Y\rniff)NOUS CONVERTER 339 



gas, that atom is broken up into an electron and a positive ion. 

 The region in which this action occurs then becomes ionized. 

 Ionized gas is a conductor of electricity. 



1 1. 



ivrtifirr with 



Kigure MTJ // Bhowa a ulass hulbcontaining an inert gas, usually 

 . at n-duccd pressure, and also an ordinary coiled tung- 

 sten filament. Near ! he filament is a graphite anode. A tran-- 

 former ab steps down the supply voltage and the filament is 

 c< innei -led across its secondary. The filament then become- in- 



nt and emit> negatr. '> or dec! roiis. 



One terminal of the transformer Secondary r and one end of 



ilament nected to the t ra n-l ormer primary at 6. 



The filan -ally the same potential aa that of 



