Is it possible to see transient voltage with the naked eye?

Transient voltage refers to a brief spike or surge in electrical voltage, often generated by sudden changes in electrical current, such as when equipment is turned on or off, or from external sources like lightning. Transient voltage events are extremely fast, typically lasting only a few microseconds to milliseconds, and they do not produce visible light or physical changes that can be seen with the naked eye.

As a characteristic of electrical phenomena, voltage itself is not something that can be perceived visually; it represents an electric potential difference between two points. Therefore, the concept of seeing transient voltage as a distinct entity does not apply. While certain conditions related to very high transient events might produce secondary effects, such as arcing, those are not the transient voltage itself.

Given this understanding, it is clear that observing transient voltage without the aid of specialized equipment is not feasible. Hence, the assertion that it cannot be seen supports the idea that transient voltage remains outside the realm of visual perception under normal circumstances.