Plasma Ball

From UO Physics Demonstration Catalog

Return to Electric Fields and Potential

Plasma.jpg

Description:

Plasma ball lights fluorescent bulb Through conduction from the ball.. Basically . Like a Tesla Coil with a glow tube. It operates on a high voltage that is oscillating at a frequency around 40kHz. The glass is an insulator hut current flows because of the high frequency so the capacitive reactance is low so placing the fluorescent bulb near the ball will make a very small current flow from the ball through the bulb and the person holding the bulb to ground.

Visible Plasma current attracts to anything connected to ground (hands, light bulbs, etc.).

Location:

  • Plasma Ball: T-0
  • Fluorescent Bulbs: I-2