electricplasma

Electric plasma, often referred to as the fourth state of matter, is an ionized gas. Unlike a neutral gas, plasma contains a significant number of charged particles, including electrons and ions. These charged particles allow plasma to conduct electricity and respond to electromagnetic fields, distinguishing it from ordinary gases.

Plasma is formed when sufficient energy is supplied to a gas, causing its atoms or molecules to lose electrons, becoming ionized. This energy can come from various sources such as heat, electric currents, or radiation. Despite being electrically charged, plasma as a whole is electrically neutral because the total positive charge of the ions is balanced by the total negative charge of the electrons.

Naturally occurring plasmas are abundant in the universe. Stars, including our Sun, are primarily composed of plasma. Terrestrial examples include lightning, the aurora borealis, and the ionosphere. Man-made plasmas are utilized in a wide array of technologies. These applications range from fluorescent lighting and neon signs to industrial processes like plasma cutting, semiconductor manufacturing, and plasma-based propulsion systems for spacecraft. The study and manipulation of plasma is known as plasma physics.