Code Number: 5H30.30

Demo Title: Rotating Plasma

Condition: Excellent

Principle: Magnetic Fields and Plasma

Area of Study: Earth's Magnetic Field

Equipment:
Neon filled glass mug, Tesla coil base for mug, variable DC power supply, bar stirring magnet.

Procedure:
Plug the variable voltage power supply into the mug base and set the voltage to about 7.5 volts when the base is turned on. Place the mug onto the base and you should see two rays extend from the base to the top of the mug. Insert the one end of the bar stirring magnet into the mug. You should be able to find a position where the neon plasma rotates inside the mug. Reversing the pole of the magnet that is inserted into the mug will reverse the direction of plasma rotation.

References:

Disclaimer

These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist. The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose. The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources. Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks. These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage. Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.

Instructional Resources and Lecture Demonstrations

5H30.30 - Rotating Plasma

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