How many times a spark plug sparks in 1 second?

Answer 1

Depends on how fast the engine is revving and on how many cylinders it has, but somewhere up to a dozen at medium speed.

16.7 times@ 2000rmp. One spark plug ignites one time for every two revolutions, so at 2000 rpm, there are 1000 sparks per minute in that one cylinder and that spark plug. Divide by 60, and that's 16.67 sparks per second.

Just for fun. I find it mind boggling the speeds things happen in an engine. Without quoting formulas and math, and using rounded numbers, an average car rpm@ 60mph is about 2400rpm, meaning with a 4" stroke, or the distance the piston travels one direction, the piston is moving at 28 feet per second. And that is a continuous up and down motion, changing directions 4 times per cycle, it's a wonder they hold together at all, not to mention for 100,000 miles. .............David