Most of the particles in the magnetosphere are ionized plasma. Above the atmosphere, Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field called the magnetosphere. The upper layers of Earth's atmosphere, the thermosphere and exosphere (and to a lesser extent the mesosphere), also contain plasma mixed in with atoms and molecules of different gases. Regions of Earth's atmosphere called the ionosphere contain some plasma that is created through ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. Though common in the universe, plasma is less abundant on Earth. Most of the matter in the Sun and other stars exists in a plasma state. 99 percent of all matter, other than the mysterious "dark matter" that astronomers have been puzzling over, is plasma. Matter in the plasma state is far more abundant than matter in the liquid, solid, or gaseous states. Plasma is the most common state of matter in the universe High energy photons from the Sun, including gamma rays, X-rays, or ultraviolet radiation, can create plasma by knocking electrons away from their atoms. High-voltage electricity, such as from lightning strikes, can also create plasmas. Atoms in a hot gas are moving so fast that electrons can be knocked loose when they collide with each other. Most plasmas are created when extra energy is added to a gas, which can occur when gases are heated to high temperatures. A plasma is generally a mix of these positively charged ions and negatively charged electrons. Atoms that have lost some or all of their negatively charged electrons are called ions. An ionized atom has a positive charge because it is missing electrons, but still contains positively charged protons and neutrons (with no charge) in its atomic nucleus. Plasma is charged gas moleculesĪ plasma is created when one or more electrons are torn free from an atom of gas. ![]() This is the main difference between a gas and a plasma. Because plasma particles have an electrical charge, they are affected by electrical and magnetic fields. ![]() Plasma is one of the four common states of matter - solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. A plasma is formed when voltage is applied to an electrode in the center of the glass sphere. A plasma ball is usually a clear glass sphere filled with a mixture of noble gases, such as neon and argon. ![]() Multiple beams of colored plasma filaments can be seen oscillating within this plasma ball.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |