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.]] |
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| + | '''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. | ||
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| + | 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. | ||
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| + | [[category:physics]] | ||
Revision as of 00:06, October 31, 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.