What is plasma?

basically, it is a state of matter where all electrons have been stripped from their nuclei. but for a better explaination, go here:
http://www.plasmas.org/basics.htm

In my opinion, all matter is a plasma, some (?normal) matter is just frozen by electromagnetic pressure.

basically, it is a state of matter where all electrons have been stripped from their nuclei. but for a better explaination, go here:
http://www.plasmas.org/basics.htmNot necessarily. A plasma is an ionized gas. Only one electron has to be lost to become ionized. Plasma is a state of matter, where, when it is heated, it begins to lose electrons, become ionized, and is then a great conductor of electric charge. Although I admit that there seems to be debate over what exactly constitutes a plasma as a fourth state of matter:

"plasma: One of four states of matter (solid, liquid, plasma and gas). The plasma state is a gas that is heated to the point where it begins to release electrons. Although plasma occurs naturally on the sun and other stars, it is artificially produced in fluorescent lights and plasma displays by electrically charging a gas in order to release ultraviolet light."
http://www.extremetech.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=plasma&i=49352,00.asp

"Plasma: a fourth state of matter distinct from solid or liquid or gas and present in stars and fusion reactors; a gas becomes a plasma when it is heated until the atoms lose all their electrons, leaving a highly electrified collection of nucli."
Source: WordReference.com English Dictionary

"Plasma: (physical chemistry) a fourth state of matter distinct from solid or liquid or gas and present in stars and fusion reactors; a gas becomes a plasma when it is heated until the atoms lose all their electrons, leaving a highly electrified collection of nuclei and free electrons; "particles in space exist in the form of a plasma"
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=plasma

"Normally, the electrons in a solid, liquid, or gaseous sample of matter stay with the same atomic nucleus. Some electrons can move from atom to atom if an electrical current flows in a solid or liquid, but the motion occurs as short jumps by individual electrons between adjacent nuclei. In a plasma, a significant number of electrons have such high energy levels that no nucleus can hold them.

An atom that has lost some of its electrons, thereby attaining an electric charge, is an ion. When a gas is subjected to heat or an electric field, some of its atoms become ions, and the gas is said to be ionized. An ionized gas, unlike a gas in its normal condition, can conduct electrical current to a limited extent. If the heat or electric field becomes extreme, many of the atoms become ions. The resulting super-ionized gas is a plasma, which can conduct a large and sustained electric current."
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci864603,00.html

The 4th state of matter, after gas.

yeah, sorry, I should not have said all, but I was in a hurry.

Almost 100% of all matter in the Universe is a plasma.

On earth (frozen plasma) we call heated electrically conducting gas a plasma, since the substance of space (plasma) is not a natural state of matter on Earth.

Defining plasma as the "fourth state of matter" is an anthropomorphic definition.

Anthropomorphic means to liken something to an animal, hence "anthro" comics etc.
Defining plasma as the "fourth state of matter" is therefore not an anthropomorphic definition.

Almost 100% of all matter in the Universe is a plasma.

On earth (frozen plasma) we call heated electrically conducting gas a plasma, since the substance of space (plasma) is not a natural state of matter on Earth.

Defining plasma as the "fourth state of matter" is an anthropomorphic definition.You cannot define plasma on Earth as "frozen plasm" as there is no such thing as "frozen plasma." Plasma is an ionized gas on Earth, as it is throughout the universe. The sun consists of plasma. Because the definition of a plasma is a "physical state," you can't say that a solid is a plasma. That's a change in the physical state of the matter.

>> "frozen plasm"

Lets see

we can have ice, water and steam

ice is frozen steam

This does occur with sublimation and condensation

The Universe is 99% plasma

so solid matter is frozen plasma.

Just a way I look at it.

Metals behave as if a liquid plasma.

Valich, don't bother. I've tried many times to correct this fool, but he just turns cover and runs.

Forget in Facial. You are replying like a fool. "turns cover and runs."? Explain? I'm always here. Do you want my phone number and address? No problem. What's your problem?

Post a definition of "plasma," or are you thinking of "frozen blood plasma"??

"Plasmas consist of freely moving charged particles, i.e., electrons and ions. Formed at high temperatures when electrons are stripped from neutral atoms, plasmas are common in nature. For instance, stars are predominantly plasma. Plasmas are the "Fourth State of Matter" because of their unique physical properties, distinct from solids, liquids and gases. Plasma densities and temperatures vary widely."
http://fusedweb.pppl.gov/CPEP/Chart_Pages/5.Plasma4StateMatter.html

Wikipedia: "plasma is "an ionized gas, and is considered to be a distinct phase of matter. "Ionized" in this case means that at least one electron has been removed from a significant fraction of the molecules....Plasmas are the most common phase of matter....

Temperature: The defining characteristic of a plasma is ionization. Although ionization can be caused by UV radiation, energetic particles, or strong electric fields, (processes that tend to result in a non-Maxwellian electron distribution function), it is more commonly caused by heating the electrons in such a way that they are close to thermal equilibrium so the electron temperature is relatively well-defined. Because the large mass of the ions relative to the electrons hinders energy transfer, it is possible for the ion temperature to be very different from (usually lower than) the electron temperature.

The degree of ionization is determined by the electron temperature relative to the ionization energy (and more weakly by the density) in accordance with the Saha equation. If only a small fraction of the gas molecules are ionized (for example 1%), then the plasma is said to be a cold plasma, even though the electron temperature is typically several thousand degrees. The ion temperature in a cold plasma is often near the ambient temperature. Because the plasmas utilized in plasma technology are typically cold, they are sometimes called technological plasmas. They are often created by using a very high electric field to accelerate electrons, which then ionize the atoms....

Ultracold Plasmas: It is also possible to create ultracold plasmas, by using lasers to trap and cool neutral atoms to temperatures of 1 mK."

Do you know the temperature of 1 mK? 1,000,0000 K = 1,800,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Forget in Facial. You are replying like a fool. "turns cover and runs."? Explain? I'm always here. Do you want my phone number and address? No problem. What's your problem?

You realize I'm talking about URI, right?

Facial: No I didn't! Thanks for clarifying your remark as I thought it was directed toward me. Terribly sorry.

Phone number and address? OK.

Now maybe I can get the FBI off my back if I can tell them.

But then what about the CIA?

You got two phone numbers and address?

S B:

Just as a matter of polite curiosity, why have you created a thread asking the identity of something that can be found in a gillian textbooks and by Googling?

Facial: No I didn't! Thanks for clarifying your remark as I thought it was directed toward me. Terribly sorry.

No prob. I was a little worried myself, since I don't like making enemies with you more reputable folks.

>> ultracold plasmas, by using lasers to trap and cool neutral atoms to temperatures of 1 mK." Do you know the temperature of 1 mK? 1,000,0000 K = 1,800,000 degrees Fahrenheit. >>>>>>>


LOL, hate to feel the temp of an normal "hot" plasma, then.

Volatile matter can be in a plasma state at 800 C and above or far far less...... see fluorescent light.

'Ultra cold' neutrons are near absolute zero.

>> correct this fool >>>

surrounded by fools ?

who is the real fool...... LOL

Volatile matter can be in a plasma state at 800 C and above or far far less...... see fluorescent light.

If I remember correctly that isn't actually a true plasma.

>> true plasma.

at least you can now appreciate the definition of the word plasma is easy, but very difficult to apply to actual "plasmas", considering that all matter is in some form of plasma.

When the lable plasma was applied to "hot ionised gases(ions)", it was not realised that solid matter is not the normal state, the plasma state is normal (99% of all matter).

So definitions used to depict a plasma are now confusing and are in need of revision, IMO.

Ultracold Plasmas: It is also possible to create ultracold plasmas, by using lasers to trap and cool neutral atoms to temperatures of 1 mK."

Do you know the temperature of 1 mK? 1,000,0000 K = 1,800,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Plasmas don't have to be hot. The definining characteristic of plasmas is that they are ionized. Ionization can occur at any physically realizable temperature, although heat certainly does help ionization occur. With regard to an ultracold plasma ... its ultracold, hence the name.

1 million Kelvins (your interpretation of 1mK) is not cold. 1 million Kelvins is 1MK, not 1mk. Our sun's core has a temperature of about 13 or 14 MK and its outer atmosphere, about 1MK. The photosphere, still a plasma, is only 6000 Kelvins. If 1MK qualifies as ultracold, what does that make 6000 Kelvins?

A lower case "m" means milli (1e-3). 1 mK is 0.001 Kelvins. Now that is cold.

>> Plasmas don't have to be hot

at last, someone who knows what they are talking about.

Now if all matter is a plasma, then all matter is in a state where it has intrinsic static electric charge, and because all these charges are in motion, then all matter also has an intrinsic magnetic charge.

We traditionally class the electron as electric and the neutron/proton as magnetic.

From these two orthogonal forces, the world is made.
Therefore the various "states" of matter we experience all depend upon the level of extraneous energy.

>>at last, someone who knows what they are talking about.


Unfortunately, that is not you.

All matter is not plasma. End of story. An ultrcacold plasma has all of the characteristics of a plasma -- its an ionized gas. The ground you stand on is not a gas; its not a plasma.

>> All matter is not plasma.

OK, but I disagree.... keep on putting new names on the same things if you like... it will just lead to confusion... as is evident in this thread....

Just because humans first found "ground" solid matter, does not mean that that stuff is not the same as 99% of the Universe,,,,,,,,

The Universe is only made of a few building blocks, IMO.

Best keep the number of "names" to a minimum.

URI, what the hell did you just say?

Dictionary.com
Plasma
# Physics. An electrically neutral, highly ionized gas composed of ions, electrons, and neutral particles. It is a phase of matter distinct from solids, liquids, and normal gases.

End of story

URI: Again, and again, and again, A plasma is a phase of matter. It is not a solid, liquid, or a normal gas state. A plasma is an ionized gas state. And in that ionized gas state, in order for it to be considered as a plasma, an electron has been removed to make it a positively charged particle or molecule. This is what gives it a positively charged electric conductivity and a potential possibility of becoming an electromagnetic field.

http://www.plasmacosmology.net/imp.html

>> Standard scientific texts focus on just three states of matter -- solids, liquids, and gases. This is no small omission. Not only should Plasma be added to this list, but it should take first place, not least because of the fact that it constitutes 99% of the known Universe! Space travel has confirmed this fact. It is misleading to describe plasma as an ionized gas when it is in fact a state in its own right.

Given the dominance of Plasma in the universe, it seems more sensible to consider solids as cooled Plasma (Or matter with energy removed), as opposed to highly energised or heated matter.

Moreover, because of the ability of Plasma to interact with electromagnetic forces, it is capable of forming far more complex structures than those seen in solids, liquids, or gases. >>>

yes !