5 Questions
What is plasma commonly referred to as in relation to the states of matter?
The fourth state
How do the electrons in a solid, liquid, or gaseous sample of matter behave compared to those in a plasma?
They stay with the same atomic nucleus
What is a defining feature of a plasma that requires high temperatures to sustain?
Ionization
How is plasma temperature commonly measured?
Kelvin
What happens at low temperatures in a plasma?
Ions and electrons tend to recombine into bound states - atoms
Study Notes
Plasma and States of Matter
- Plasma is commonly referred to as the fourth state of matter, in addition to solid, liquid, and gas.
Electron Behavior
- In a solid, liquid, or gaseous sample of matter, electrons are closely bound to their atoms or molecules.
- In a plasma, electrons are free to move about, creating a collection of charged particles.
Defining Features of Plasma
- A defining feature of a plasma is the presence of ions and free electrons, which requires high temperatures to sustain.
Measuring Plasma Temperature
- Plasma temperature is commonly measured in electronvolts (eV) or Kelvin (K).
Low Temperature Behavior
- At low temperatures in a plasma, the ions and free electrons recombine, resulting in the loss of plasma properties.
Learn about plasma, the fourth state of matter, where electrons move freely among the nuclei of atoms. Explore how plasma differs from solid, liquid, and gas states of matter.
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