Ionization Energy


Plasma ball

Learn about noble gases and their interaction with electricity with the Plasma Orb! The Tesla coil in the center emits high voltage alternating electric currents through the plasma, composed of noble gases. This combination produces the exciting colorful effects you can see, because your touch creates a discharge path for the electricity and light to follow.

Concepts:

Ionization, eV for Photoionization Detectors

Safety:

Safety glasses MUST be worn at all times by demonstrator and the audience

Plug into a grounded outlet

Do not drop the lightbulb

Equipment:

  • Tesla coil

  • Mercury fluorescent lightbulb (Approximately 3')\

  • Volunteer

Preparation:

  • Just plug in the tesla coil

Demonstration Instructions

  1. Instructor touches the Tesla coil and the electrons will go to where he/she touches.

  2. The frequency is high but the amps are low.

  3. Have the student hold one end of the mercury lamp avoiding the contacts at the end.

  4. The instructor hold the other end.

  5. Both the instructor and the student touch the Tesla coil

Observations:

  • The lamp lights up when they touch the Tesla coil!!

Learning Outcomes:

  • This is an ionizing radiation, with sufficient energy these radiations can ionize anything in their path e.g. air and the low pressure gas in a discharge tube. So inside a nearby

  • In fluorescent tube, the mercury vapor gets ionized and kicks out an electron that create photons/ultraviolet radiation, this ultraviolet light then strikes the phosphor coating on the inside surface of the tube which converts it to visible light.

  • PID do a similar function with UV light by ionizing anything (Not anything but you get it) under the lamp rating.

  • You can go into electron volts needed to ionize chemicals, ratings are listed in NIOSH Pocket Guide and WISER as Ionization Potential (IP).

Chemical Disposal:

  • None

Additional Information: