Plasma balls we find in toy stores, and on the web contain noble gases in semi-vacuums. These distribute around high-voltage electrodes at the heart of each sphere. This school experiment describes several neat things you can do with a plasma orb, by following information from University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Materials for Experiments with Plasma Balls
You will need the following resources for these experiments:
- A responsible adult assistant
- A plasma ball from a toy store
- A fluorescent light tube
- A wooden / non-conductive chair or stool
- Two nice and shiny loose pennies
- Pair of insulated long nose pliers
A Couple of Neat Things to Try Out
Choose a time in the evening when it is dark outside. Turn off the lights off in the room, so you can see the ball glowing.
- Press your hand on one side of the ball. Notice the energy collect at that point.
- Bring the fluorescent light tube close to the ball. What happens next? Does it illuminate?
- Balance one penny on the ball. Touch it the other using the pliers. See it spark!
For the final experiment climb on the wooden / non-conductive chair or stool. Rest your one hand on the ball. Have your responsible adult assistant pass you the fluorescent light tube. Watch it illuminate as soon as you grasp the other end.
The Science Behind the These Phenomena
The ball is a miniature Tesla coil with an electrode inside a spiral of wires. These have electrons passing through, and oscillate at very high frequency. This shakes them so hard the electrons separate, and travel out into the air from the glass sphere.
This is what causes a spark when you touch it, and provides the energy to light the fluorescent tube. However, if your assistant lets go of the other end, then they sever the link to the ground and the tube will no longer glow.
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