One of the consequences of anode spot formation in high‐current vacuum arcs is the ejection of molten metal droplets of varying sizes and the impact cooling of these droplets upon the internal surfaces which surround the discharge. Some of these droplets adhere to the target surfaces while others becomes detached to form loose metallic debris within the containing vessel. Under some conditions, high voltage applied to the vessel can levitate the debris causing electrical breakdown. We have simulated this breakdown mechanism in an experimental study of particles having cylindrical shapes moving under the influence of high‐voltage pulses of several milliseconds duration. The motion of aluminum, copper, and gold particles is determined using a stroboscopic technique. Values of levitation voltages under dc conditions are also measured and found to be in good agreement with an analysis by Felici. We have conducted a numerical analysis of the dynamic behavior of the particles studied in the experiment. The results, which take into account the image forces and the instantaneous state of contact of the particle with the supporting surface, correlate well with the experiment. A brief extension of the analysis is made to describe particle movement under impulsive, sinusoidal, and 1‐cosine voltage waveforms. Significant motion of particles 2 mm in length and 0.25 mm in diameter occurs within a few milliseconds.