A Little About Atoms - 4
A LITTLE ABOUT ATOMS - 4
1. Introdution.
2. Types of Atoms.
3. Charged Atoms.
4. Plasma.
5. Nuclear Reactions - Fission.
6. Nuclear Reactions - Fusion.
PLASMA
Neutral Hydrogen atoms.
Imagine a cloud of Hydrogen gas. Further imagine that the Hydrogen atoms have been ionised, that is the electrons have been removed from their orbits around the nucleus ( a proton) and are moving through the cloud seperately from the protons. We have a mixture of independently moving protons and electrons. This is called a plasma.
Hydrogen plasma.
Because electrons are 2000 times less massive than protons it is easier to cause them to move through the plasma. Large clouds of electrons can be made to move in unison by electric or magnetic fields in the plasma. Such a coordinated movement of electrons constitutes an electric current. Unlike a gas, a plasma will readily conduct an electric current.
Electrons flowing in unison through the plasma creating an electric current.
Plasmas are also affected by magnetic fields. The plasma will flow along magnetic field lines as illustrated by this image of a magnetic loop on the Sun.
IMAGE CREDIT: TRACE TEAM, NASA.