Which statement about the blowout coil effects on arc behavior is accurate?

• A. It shortens the arc and slows energy dissipation
• B. It lengthens the arc and speeds dissipation
• C. It has no effect on arc behavior
• D. It prevents arcing entirely

Answer: (B)

Blowout coils work by using a magnetic field to pull and spread the arc into a longer, more diffuse path as the contacts separation increases. That longer arc path raises the arc’s resistance and increases its surface area for heat transfer, so the arc heats and cools more quickly overall, helping the current drop to zero faster. The coil also helps push the arc away from the contacts, reducing the chance of re-ignition. So the accurate statement is that the blowout coil lengthens the arc and speeds dissipation. It does not have no effect, nor does it fully prevent arcing, and it does not shorten the arc.