Plasma
Dickson Lim(14) 1p2
Content Brief introduction Formation of Plasma Definition of Plasma Properties Common Plasma Plasma Uses of Plasma Plasma TV Interesting facts Photo Gallery
Brief Introduction to Plasma
Very similar to gas -certain particles are ionized
Has properties quite unlike those of solids, liquids, or gases
Considered to be a distinct state of matter4th state of matter
Formation of Plasma A plasma is an ionized gas, a gas into which sufficient energy is
provided to free electrons from atoms or molecules and to allow both species, ions and electrons, to coexist.
A plasma is a gas that has been energized to
the point that some of the electrons break free
from, but travel with, their nucleus.
Formation of Plasma
The energy can be of various origins: thermal, electrical, or light E.g. ultraviolet light or intense visible light from a
laser.
With insufficient sustaining power, plasmas recombine into neutral gas.
Definition of Plasma
Charged particles must be close enough together that each particle influences many nearby charged particles (rather than just interacting with the closest particle)
Interactions in the bulk of the plasma are more important than those at its edges, where boundary effects may take place.
Properties
Does not have a definite volume
Does not have a definite shape
Can be compressed
Common Plasma Are by far the most common phase of matter in the
universe, both by mass and by volume.
All the stars are made of plasma, and even the space between the stars is filled with a plasma, albeit a very sparse one.
In our solar system, the planet Jupiter accounts for most of the non-plasma, only about 0.1% of the mass and 10−15% of the volume within the orbit of Pluto.
Plasma
By far the most common form of matter
Present in the stars and in the tenuous space
Makes up over 99% of the visible universe and perhaps most of that which is not visible
Plasma Consists of a collection of free moving electrons and ions
- atoms that have lost electrons.
Energy is needed to strip electrons from atoms to make plasma.
The energy can be of various origins: thermal, electrical, or light.
With insufficient sustaining power, plasmas recombine into neutral gas.
Plasma
Can be accelerated and steered by electric and magnetic fieldsAllows it to be controlled and applied.
Temperature commonly measured in kelvins or electronvolts Informal measure of the thermal kinetic energy per
particle.
Plasma
Can be accelerated and steered by electric and magnetic fieldsAllows it to be controlled and applied.
Temperature commonly measured in kelvins or electronvolts Informal measure of the thermal kinetic energy per
particle.
Uses Mainly used in high tech industries
Microelectronic/semiconductors chips for computers transmitters for microwaves or high temperature films
Can even be used in extraction of minerals e.g.diamond
Plasma TV
Plasma TV A plasma display panel (PDP) is a type of flat panel
display common to large TV displays .
Many tiny cells between just two panels of glass hold a mixture of noble gases.
The gas in the cells is electrically turned into a plasma which emits ultraviolet light which then excites phosphors to emit visible light.
Pros & Cons of Plasma TV Advantages
Achieves better and more accurate color reproduction than LCDs
Produces deep, true blacks allowing for superior contrast ratios (up to 1:2,000,000)
Far wider viewing angles than those of LCD
Disadvantages Susceptible to screen burn-in and image
retention Gradual decline of absolute image
brightness Use more electricity, on average, than
an LCD TV
Lightning Lightning is an example of plasma present at Earth’s
surface
Typically, lightning discharges 30,000 amperes at up to 100 million volts, and emits light, radio waves, X-rays and even gamma rays
Plasma temperatures in lightning can approach ~28,000 kelvin and electron densities may exceed 1024 m−3
Tycho’s Supernova
The remnant of "Tycho's Supernova", a huge ball of expanding plasma
The outer shell shown in blue is X-ray emission by high-speed electrons.
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ALJY-nWbnQ
Tychos’s Supernova
Please click the picture to watch the video
Sun The biggest chunk of plasma you will see is that
dear friend to all of us, the sun.
The sun's enormous heat rips electrons off the hydrogen and helium molecules that make up the sun.
Essentially, the sun, like most stars, is a great big ball of plasma.
Photo Gallery
Credits
http://www.plasmas.org http://www.chem4kids.com/files/matter_plasma.ht
ml http://www.tvsnob.com/pictures/plasma-cool.jpg www.youtube.com (video)
Thank You
Q & A Q&A
