Difference between revisions of "Plasma"
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[[Image:Ytdu678uj.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A plasma lamp, illustrating some of the more complex phenomena of a plasma, including filamentation. The colors are a result of the relaxation of electrons in excited states to lower energy states after they have recombined with ions. These processes emit light in a spectrum characteristic of the gas being excited.]] | [[Image:Ytdu678uj.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A plasma lamp, illustrating some of the more complex phenomena of a plasma, including filamentation. The colors are a result of the relaxation of electrons in excited states to lower energy states after they have recombined with ions. These processes emit light in a spectrum characteristic of the gas being excited.]] | ||
| − | '''Plasma''' is a state of matter(akin to [[solid]], [[liquid]] and [[gas]]) where the matter has become ionized, or the [[electron]]s stripped from the atoms. Therefore, a plasma consists of both negatively charged electrons, and positively charged [[ion]]s. | + | '''Plasma''' is a state of matter (akin to [[solid]], [[liquid]] and [[gas]]) where the matter has become ionized, or the [[electron]]s stripped from the atoms. Therefore, a plasma consists of both negatively charged electrons, and positively charged [[ion]]s. |
Like a gas, in a plasma the consituents are not physically constrained in position by each other, and will expand to fill the available space. | Like a gas, in a plasma the consituents are not physically constrained in position by each other, and will expand to fill the available space. | ||
[[category:physics]] | [[category:physics]] | ||
Revision as of 08:35, May 5, 2007
A plasma lamp, illustrating some of the more complex phenomena of a plasma, including filamentation. The colors are a result of the relaxation of electrons in excited states to lower energy states after they have recombined with ions. These processes emit light in a spectrum characteristic of the gas being excited.
Plasma is a state of matter (akin to solid, liquid and gas) where the matter has become ionized, or the electrons stripped from the atoms. Therefore, a plasma consists of both negatively charged electrons, and positively charged ions.
Like a gas, in a plasma the consituents are not physically constrained in position by each other, and will expand to fill the available space.