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Introduction

Our topic is the plasma ball. A plasma ball is a clear glass sphere filled with a mixture of various noble gases with a high-voltage electrode in the center of the sphere. Some objects can have an effect on the plasma ball or some can be affected by it.

Driving Question

What effects does the plasma ball have when coming into contact with other objects; what effects do the objects have on the plasma ball? What are the practical applications of the plasma ball's effect?

Procedure

1. Place one hand on the plasma globe and observe how the plasma tendrils consolidate and focus on your fingertip(s). Also place a penny on the plasma globe and observe how the penny heats up.

2.Place the fluorescent light tube near the plasma globe and observe the effects of the gas in the tube coming into contact with the electric field around the plasma globe. Also move your hands to various point along the fluorescent tube and observe any changes that take place.

3. Hold the energy tube near the plasma globe and observe as the energy tube lights up as the circuit is completed by coming into contact with the electric field around the plasma globe.

4. Have another student hold on to the energy tube and place one hand on the plasma globe, notice how the energy tube will not light up from just touching the other student as the circuit is not complete, however, simply by extending one hand towards the energy tube it lights up.

Safety

• Do not make prolonged skin contact with the plasma globe it can burn the skin
• Be careful with gas tube and fluorescent light bulb as they can break and lead to injuries and/or release fumes
• Be careful with nails if they are required to construct box
• Do not swallow paint
• Be careful not to break plasma globe

Essential Understanding

Plasma globes are filled with noble gases, such as neon, xenon, argon, and krypton. Once the plasma globe is plugged in, the flow of electricity flows through the transformer. Negative charge is collected on the central electrode. Due to its small size, the electrode fills with charge quickly. As is the tendency of like charges to repel, the charges on the electrode separate as much as possible. The paths of the negative charges are visible because as they pass through the gas mixture in the sphere, they charge that part of the gas and cause it to become plasma. The negative charges are not able to reach the Earth, which is the most attractive destination in the vicinity, due to the glass sphere. The negative charges can escape the sphere if there is another avenue, such as a human hand on the globe or a fluorescent light rod nearby. The rod is filled with electrically neutral mercury gas. When brought close to the plasma globe, the negative charges can escape the globe and charge the rod, causing it to light up. This is due to the fact that both have gas within them; incandescent light bulbs do not, so this phenomenon is not applicable to such bulbs.

Observation

When we turned on the plasma globe several plasma tendrils appear from the electrode stretching to the glass sphere. Once we touched the glass many of the tendrils would join together to span from the electrode to the point of contact on the glass. These tendrils are much more intense than the ones that are there when it is idle. When we moved the fluorescent light tube near the the globe the light tube would light up. Whenever we moved the energy tube near the globe it also would light up.

Real Life Application

We have used the properties of alternating currents in order to create power grids and power house's around the world. In contrast to direct currents, alternating currents can have their voltage altered without loosing significant amounts of power. This allows us to power a wide array of electronics with vastly different voltages without loosing much power in the process of changing the voltage. We have used the properties of alternating currents in order to create power grids and power house's around the world. In contrast to direct currents, alternating currents can have their voltage altered without loosing significant amounts of power. This allows us to power a wide array of electronics with vastly different voltages without loosing much power in the process of changing the voltage.

This allows us to power a wide array of electronics with vastly different voltages without loosing much power in the process of changing the voltage. We have used the properties of alternating currents in order to create power grids and power house's around the world. In contrast to direct currents, alternating currents can have their voltage altered without loosing significant amounts of power. This allows us to power a wide array of electronics with vastly different voltages without loosing much power in the process of changing the voltage. We have used the properties of alternating currents in order to create power grids and power house's around the world. In contrast to direct currents, alternating currents can have their voltage altered without loosing significant amounts of power. This allows us to power a wide array of electronics with vastly different voltages without loosing much power in the process of changing the voltage.

Investigation Questions

1. Why does the stream of plasma follow the various stimuli placed near it?

This is because the ions are attracted and used you as a new pathway for electricity to travel.

2. Why did the fluorescent bulb/tube glow?

The electrons that surrounds the globe and the electromagnetic field flows through the tube, the electricity charges the gas within, causing it to glow.

3. What is inside the plasma globe?

Inside the globe contains ionized gas with low pressure, where the collisions of neutral atoms combine the electrons to free gas, which causes a long trail of ions.

4. Why did the energy tube light up when placed near the plasma globe

The high voltage electrode in the center of the sphere creates a electrical field the surpasses the bounds of the glass and powers the energy tube as long as it is within range of the electrical field.