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A small
Tesla coil generates a large potential difference to simulate lightning.
This 7" Plasma Globe creates an amazing light show - from any angle! A little bit of science, a little bit of art, and a whole lot of cool! It's simply the ultimate interactive light show. Blending specially formulated inert gases, this globe creates a dramatic display of light inside a hand-blown glass sphere. Fascinating to watch, this light is even more fun to play with! Just place your fingers on the glass surface and watch as colored bolts of glowing light follow your every move. You can actually "feel" the energy as the light gently tickles your fingerprints! Safely create and explore lightning right in your home.
The Plasma
Globe offers you a safe, fascinating way to demonstrate how lightning works
as well as explain the concepts of potential differences and electron
orbital jumping. A
small Tesla coil produces a large potential difference between it and the
glass of the surrounding globe, similar to a cloud and its potential
difference with the ground.
This potential difference uses inert gases
inside the globe to complete a circuit and release its potential to the
outer glass, just as a cloud releases its potential to the ground. The
result? Bright, harmless, violet lightning bolts that respond to touch and
sound. 120v 60hz.
Activities and Uses:
Use the plasma globe to study plasmas and electrical discharges.
A sample activity from the datasheet is given below.
The first thing you will notice about the sphere is that
by placing a conductor (your finger will do nicely) near the surface of the
globe, the streams of plasma seem attracted to it. Since the plasma streams
are composed of ionized gas molecules, these charged particles are attracted
to an uncharged object, similar to the way a charged balloon is attracted to
a neutral object (like the wall of your room). You may want to experiment and see if you can attract more streams with
different types of conductors or insulators. (How about a magnet?)
Science Standards:
In using this product, national and states’ science education standards are
covered. Some examples are provided here. These are representative. However,
check with your state to find the exact standards.
Each kind of atom or molecule can gain or lose energy only in particular
discrete amounts and thus can absorb and emit light only at wavelengths
corresponding to these amounts. These wavelengths can be used to identify
the substance.
Describe and explain the structural parts and electrical charges of atoms.
Students know plasmas, the fourth state of matter, contain ions or free
electrons or both and conduct electricity.
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