What does the ignition system produce that jumps across the tip of the spark plug?

The ignition system is designed to generate a high-voltage surge that is essential for igniting the fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber of an engine. When the ignition system is activated, it transforms battery voltage into a much higher voltage, typically in the range of thousands of volts. This surge is directed to the spark plug, where it must jump across the gap at the tip of the plug to create a spark.

This spark is critical because it must have sufficient voltage to overcome the resistance of the air-fuel mixture present at the spark plug gap. The high-voltage surge produces a spark that ignites the compressed fuel-air mixture, leading to combustion and driving the engine's power stroke. Thus, the answer accurately reflects the function of the ignition system in initiating the engine's operation.