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How to light up a lamp with a plasma ball?
A high voltage electrode sits in the center of the plasma ball and is connected to the power source. electrical current ionizes the gas in the ball when the ball is turned on, this creates plasma. The high frequency current extends beyond the surface of the ball. When you bring the fluorescent tube near the ball the same energy "excites" the mercury atoms inside the bulb. These atoms emit ultraviolet light which is absorbed into the phosphor coating inside the tube, lighting up the tube.
Introduction
In this project I will be investigating how a plasma globe/ball works. I will be doing research and experimenting with the plasma ball.
Materials
Plasma ball
Fluorescent Light Tube
Wooden chair or stool
pennies
Computer
Internet
Procedure:
Place your hand on the Plasma ball. Watch what happens.
Bring the fluorescent light tup close to the plasma ball this time. Watch what happens.
Find a partner and stand on a chair or something stable and put your hand on the ball. Have your partner hand you the fluorescent light. Watch what happens.
Repeat step 3, except this time stand on the ground. Did it work?
This time put a penny ontop of the plasma ball, now without using your finger touch the penny with another penny.
Now with a multimeter measure the electrical potential around the plasma ball. Place one lead on the glass while moving the other lead around.
Scientific Principle
The plasma in a plasma ball is created when atoms of a gas are heated up and they get extremely hot. These atoms have so much energy that when they collide, the electrons knock off. A plasma is pretty much just a bunch of electrons and ions.
The plasma ball is just a miniature version of a Tesla coil.
A tesla coil consist of two parts, primary coil and secondary coil both coils have their own capacitor. Both coils and their capacitors are connected by a park gap, which is a gap of air between to electrodes that generates the spark of electricity.
Investigation
What is plasma?
It is an ionized gas consisting of positive ions and free electrons in proportions resulting in more or less no overall electric charrge typicall at low pressures (like in the upper atmosophere and in a fluorescent lamp).
What gases are used inside of a Plasma Ball?
The most common are:
Neon
Argon
Nitrogen
Why does plasma shoot up towards your hand when touching a plasma ball?
The reason plasma shoots up towards your hand when placing it in contact with the outside of the glass is capacitive coupling between the inside of the glass and the outside, the fact that your handsupplies the other lead of the capacitor, which allows mobile charges in your body to flow to cance charge buildup on the outside of the glass. As charge builds up in the inside and equal yet opposite charge builds up on the outside. The canceling charge on your hand reduces the energy neccessary to accomplish this and it is energetically favored to put more charge on the inside of the glass towards your hand then it is anywehre else.
What causes the purple light/color of a plasma ball?
The Purple color of a plasma ball is from air, not from neon.
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