Plasma, The Forth State of Matter Andy Nyholm

7/27/2019 Plasma, The Forth State of Matter Andy Nyholm

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Plasma, The Forth State of Matter

By Andrew Nyholm


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How is Plasma Created and Why?

Plasma is created at a very high temperature

when atoms in gas molecules decompose into

positively charged ions and negatively charged

neutrons.

Although the molecules have decomposed,

the magnetic fields of the ions and neutrons

keep them associated allowing the particles tomove very quickly.


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Where is Plasma Found?

Plasma in the universe is said to hold up to

95%-99% of all matter.

Plasma on Earth is commonly found in

fluorescent lamps and as lightning.

Things such as stars, solar wind, and many

other interstellar objects are made from

plasma.


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What are the Properties of Plasma

Most terrestrial plasma or plasma on Earth, actslike gas and the definition of plasma is sometimesthat of ionized gases.

Plasma is most like a gas in properties, for itsmolecules are not in constant contact. Howevernot all properties are the same, for example: themolecules move in what scientists call collectivemotion.

This means that the molecules move as a whole,not randomly, but can also contain lumps ofparticles


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Where do these Come from?

Plasma gets these properties from its ion

attraction and repulsion due to magnetism

from the ions (with a positive field) and

neutrons (with a negative field) they contain.

An important note about ionized gases is that

only a very small fraction of the gas needs to

be ionized to show properties of plasma.


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Magnetohydrodynamics

Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) is a theory thatsays that plasma should be treated as anelectrically conductive liquid.

This theory has been used in success to explainsolar flares, solar wind, and star formation alongwith other astrological events.

Scientists have compared the Earths molten,

swirling, magnetic-field-creating core to an MHDliquid due to its creation of the Earths magnetic

field.


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I have been fascinated by plasmaever since I first heard of it. I have

been thinking about how to use

plasma to help engineer the future

since I was young and have

thought of some unique ideas.


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Lightning Power Conversion Tank

Lightning (a form of plasma) is a seeminglyunusable resource but I have thought about itand have a solution.

The problem with lightning is that the electricityis static, not current, which makes it unusable totap directly.

I have thought of a way to indirectly tap this

power source and use the power not aselectricity but as a chemical reaction in one of themost famous molecules ever, good old H2O.


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How would I do this?

First we must understand some basic propertiesof Oxygen and Hydrogen.

Hydrogen, when burnt in contact to Oxygen,creates heat (energy) and also H2O (water) bybonding together with the oxygen.

Now one way to separate the bonds of H2O is tointroduce electricity, like from lightning.

One problem with this process is that therewould be a large amount of highly flammableHydrogen in a Oxygen rich environment withlightning, which can set it off, all around.


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Plasma as a Weapon

Plasma cannot be contained in any substanceknown to man but it can be held by amagnetic field.

This opens up the option of having weaponsof war that contain plasma in an electric-magnetic field and then release the field as apermanent magnet is shot at the target withthe plasma following the magnetic fieldcreated by the magnet.


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Bibliography

Fitzpatrick, Richard. "Plasma Physics." TheUniversity of Texas at Austin. Web. 31 Oct.2011.

.

http://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching/plasma/380.pdf
http://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching/plasma/380.pdfhttp://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching/plasma/380.pdfhttp://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching/plasma/380.pdfhttp://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching/plasma/380.pdf

Plasma, The Forth State of Matter Andy Nyholm

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