Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Technology => Topic started by: Chemistry4me on 11/03/2009 06:31:52

Title: What will happen to the stuff inside a plasma ball if you broke it?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 11/03/2009 06:31:52

What will happen to the stuff inside a plasma ball if you broke it?  [???]
Would it be dangerous if you did break it?  [???]

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.astronomycafe.net%2Fqadir%2Fask%2FplasmaBall.jpg&hash=cea844836e9b248ca5c8170dca8b4368)

Title: What will happen to the stuff inside a plasma ball if you broke it?
Post by: Karen W. on 11/03/2009 07:38:03

I think they have gas of sorts in them.. . I don't know though if it would harm you.. I don't think so though.. you would think it wouldn't be enough to cause any harm if it broke...

Title: What will happen to the stuff inside a plasma ball if you broke it?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 11/03/2009 09:28:46

So basically: nothing?

Title: What will happen to the stuff inside a plasma ball if you broke it?
Post by: Don_1 on 11/03/2009 09:41:19

They are filled with Helium & Neon to a pressure of less than 0.1 atmospheres, so it would implode and the gases would do no harm.

Title: What will happen to the stuff inside a plasma ball if you broke it?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 12/03/2009 04:38:48

How do they make the plasma?

Title: What will happen to the stuff inside a plasma ball if you broke it?
Post by: Karen W. on 12/03/2009 05:33:14

They are cool.. I always wanted one of those things.. I have only seen a few!

Title: What will happen to the stuff inside a plasma ball if you broke it?
Post by: Don_1 on 12/03/2009 09:18:31

Probably find 100's on eBay Karen.

C4M - I have an answer for your question, I don't know!!! Not an entirely satisfactory answer I'll admit, but honest!

Title: What will happen to the stuff inside a plasma ball if you broke it?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 12/03/2009 09:23:11

You can probably buy thousands of them with some of Don_1's prize money. [:)]

Title: What will happen to the stuff inside a plasma ball if you broke it?
Post by: Don_1 on 12/03/2009 09:44:15

Quote from: Chemistry4me on 12/03/2009 09:23:11

You can probably buy thousands of them with some of Don_1's prize money. [:)]

It's all mine I tell you, you'er getting none of it, it's in my wallet and it's staying there!!!
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bb-shopping.com%2Fprod_images%2Fimage_cat36%2Fthumbs%2F300%2Fthumb_3101_image1tight-git-1.jpg&hash=837eb54b5169082bf4dd507d6ab6a717)

Title: What will happen to the stuff inside a plasma ball if you broke it?
Post by: lyner on 16/03/2009 00:11:05

A low pressure gas is very easy to ionise with a modest few hundred volts (that's all a plasma is) - particlularly if you use a radio frequency signal to help it along. The plasma balls are not much different from flourescent tubes.

Title: What will happen to the stuff inside a plasma ball if you broke it?
Post by: shockwavemikey65 on 30/07/2009 03:59:03

Quote from: Karen W. on 12/03/2009 05:33:14

They are cool.. I always wanted one of those things.. I have only seen a few!

lol I work here! [O8)]
[Sorry - advertising link removed. Mod]

Title: What will happen to the stuff inside a plasma ball if you broke it?
Post by: exton on 31/07/2009 04:36:22

Quote from: Chemistry4me on 11/03/2009 09:28:46

So basically: nothing?

Nothing.

But...

If you take out the electronics inside, you'll see that there's a wire going into the metal ball from a transformer. Turn on the electronics, and you can do all sorts of fun stuff with that wire.

Well, not all sorts...really just electrocuting stuff. You can produce short electrical arcs (like the plasma in the globe, only more...yellow) in open air.

No, it's not at a few hundred volts. They're actually at many thousands of volts, and a few milliamps. So be very careful! The eletronics inside might burn stuff or stop your heart. It's not dangerous as long as it's inside the globe, though; you won't be able to produce open air arcs through the glass that encases the metal ball.

Title: What will happen to the stuff inside a plasma ball if you broke it?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 31/07/2009 04:53:06

Thank you. I'll remember that for next time. [:)]