One of the vagaries geeks that allowed me as a student at Valencia was to buy a ball of plasma (or plasma lamp some call it). Like most people, the first time I saw them was at a science museum (in Barcelona to be exact) and I was fascinated.
The basic operation of these balls is quite simple to understand, but understand every detail becomes much more complicated, and indeed, I do not understand However, so accept alternative answers, which I will learn well.
plasma balls are inside a transformer that applies an alternating voltage (typically a few tens of KHz) of several kilovolts between the small central area and the glass (or plastic) that surrounds it. The glass contains a gas (usually a noble gas) at very low pressure. Given the enormous voltage applied, the gas molecules are ionized plasma forming a conductor on the moving electrons. The electrons in each molecule up to high levels of energy and emit light fall. As the electrons flow the gas is heated, and convection currents that cause the plasma rise and thus the path followed by electrons. This is the same performance we see in the post switches for engineers, and basically the same thing happens when a capacitor voltage is increased too until arcing occurs, except that the glass outside is a good driver (and this will be important for the next point).
What happens then approached the finger? So unless I am mistaken, the reason why the current is directed toward him is that our finger forms a capacitor with the exterior glass and this gives a less intense way to alternating current as the glass is very bad driver. So that as the current seeks the path of least resistance, toward us.
Why when approaching a currency seized by the fingers until it is close enough to jump an arc from the glass hurt? (Yes, I know from experience) because I'm not sure, but think it has to do with the fact that the currency itself is a good driver, and must accumulate enough charge that jumps to hit with the arc producing a important transient current (not alternating), but for me it is complicated to explain.
And why when two people who are playing the ball to touch each other with the same hand, there is often a shock? I think this is because it to be touching the ball at different points in the two people in any way be charged to different potentials, and touch potentials are equated with what is new is generated transient current does not mix that produces the shock.
Finally, among the nicest things you can do with these balls is photographed in a long exposure. In the photo collection some that used to be about Chulis wallpapers.
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