Plasma Ball USB
Friday, May 2nd, 2008
Powered by an included USB cable, this desktop Plasma Ball is about stands about 6 inches high and includes an on/off switch. While it emits a very low current, it does so at a relatively high-voltage and so it does produce some EMF. Respect your plasma ball and will respect you. All this made possible by the evil genius of Nikola Tesla and some science.
This is combination of interesting and fun gasses (like Argon) are first trapped inside a plastic sphere at relatively low pressures. An sporadic current, at relatively high voltages are pumped into the sphere via an electrode in the center. This energy causes atoms to be stripped from the gasses,leaving in its wake some positively charged ions and a gorgeous gaseous and electrically conductive environment (aka Plasma). That high voltage served up through the electrode will now arc up through the plasma to the lower voltage edge of the plastic sphere (starting at the top where the temperature is greater). The arcs glow because they are hotter than the surrounding plasma. You can touch the plastic and the arcs will strongly congregate to your touch because you will be creating an even lower voltage jump from the electrode.