Plasma The Fourth Property of Matter. Sungjae Cho, Douglass Cook

What is Plasma? A mixture of molecules and free radicals or charged ions An element with a very high amount of energy. Contains charged particles, positive ions and negative electrons

Characteristics of plama can only be seen under certain circumstances, like in a plasma ball. It's not a solid nor is it a liquid. It's SOMEWHAT of a gas, but it's partionally ionized

How is it formed? 1. Heating a gas dissociates its molecular bonds, rendering it into its constituent atoms. 2. Further heating leads to ionization (a loss or gain of electrons), turning it into a plasma. containing charged particles, positive ions and negative electrons

Where can it be found? Most flames Lightning All the stars, and even the space between the stars is filled with a plasma The solar wind

Why plasma? the most populat phase of matter. Most of the matter in the universe exists as plasma. Electrons in metals exist as a plasma. Ions in our ionosphere exist as a plasma. Without plasma, the earth would have never existed.

How can it be used? plasma displays, including TVs Inside fluorescent lamps (low energy lighting), neon signs Rocket exhaust and ion thrusters Fusion energy research can be inoculated with other chemicals to detectthe body's reaction to infections, cancer, or HIV, the virus that causes AIDS