Spark
A spark is a pattern that dies. The term is typically used to describe a collection of cells periodically thrown off by an oscillator or spaceship, but other dying patterns, particulary those consisting of only one or two cells (such as those produced by certain glider collisions, for example), are also described as sparks. For examples of small sparks see unix and heavyweight spaceship. For an example of a much larger spark see Schick engine.
Oscillators and spaceships that produce sparks are known as sparkers.[1]
Smoke
Smoke is debris that is fairly long-lived but eventually dies out completely. Thus, it is basically a large spark, but the term is used especially when talking about the output from a spaceship (as in a smoking ship).[2]
Tail spark
A tail spark is a spark that appears at the back of a spaceship.[3] For example, there is a one-bit tail spark at the back of a lightweight spaceship, middleweight spaceship, and heavyweight spaceship in their less dense phases.
References
External links
- Spark at the Life Lexicon