1. PLASMA BALLSPLASMA BALLS Picture from: http://van.hep.uiuc.edu/van/demos/Plasma%20Ball/Plasma%20Ball.htm

2. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF A PLASMA BALL? Transformer Glass globe A cord to plug into the wall GasesGases - - - Charged particles

3. A QUICK CHEMISTRY LESSON… An atom in its natural state has an equal number of protons and electrons…..

4. DO YOU REMEMBER? PROTONS HAVE A _______ CHARGE. ELECTRONS HAVE A ______ CHARGE. + ++ + + - -- - - So normally, the charge is neutral…..

5. BUT……… IF AN ATOM GAINS AN ELECTRON, IT BECOMES NEGATIVELY CHARGED. - - - - -

6. WHEN YOU TURN ON THE PLASMA BALL The transformer collects negative charges. Like charges repel. So the charges in the transformer try to get away from each other.

7. THE GASES MAKE THE COLOR - - - - - - The colored arcs are caused by the charges moving through the gas inside the globe.

8. THE GASES MAKE THE COLOR - - - - - - Here is a list of the gases that might be in a plasma ball: Xenon= bluish white Neon = bright orange Argon = deep purple Nitrogen = reddish purple Krypton,Helium = white Carbon = white or blue

9. A PLASMA BALL IS SIMPLY A LESSON IN DIFFUSION - - - - - - The negative charge inside the globe builds up. Because like charges repel each other, the charges want to diffuse away from each other.

10. A PLASMA BALL IS SIMPLY A LESSON IN DIFFUSION - - - - - - When you touch the globe. The charges flow through you and to the earth. This discharges some of the charge that has built up inside the globe.