How do plasma balls work electrically?

[osilmag]

Plasma balls. Knowing that...

1. Neon lights are filled with noble gas and light up when current goes through them.
2. The equations, $V=Ed$, $F=qE$, and Coulomb's Law could be used to design these.

Are you actually seeing a random electric field or is the plasma real?

https://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/plasma-ball.html

 

[member 656954]

It is plasma, usually from a mixture of noble gases, with a high-voltage electrode at the center generating a high-frequency, high-voltage AC to create the sparks. And the discharges are random until you touch it, at which point your finger creates a discharge path with less resistance than the surrounding glass and gases.

But not sure this is right forum for your question, unless you are planning a story idea?

 

[osilmag]

No, no story. Just making sure it wasn't an illusion.

 

[sophiecentaur]

No, no story. Just making sure it wasn't an illusion.

It’s real enough. The current is very small and it is high frequency so it will only pass over the skin and not through your body. You just don’t feel it.

 

[Nik_2213]

"You just don’t feel it."
Actually, you can, if you but brush a finger along the glass.
Tickles...

FWIW, long ago, I used a similar trick to determine which parts of a 12 V model railroad track were 'live', and which had a bad link / fish-plate. That was full-wave rectified, but not smoothed. I don't know if modern 'digital' version with constant power plus engine addressing will play thus...

 

[sophiecentaur]

You are right. You can feel the presence of ‘something happening’ against your hand. Also for some AC mains equipment where the Earth is not good and there’s a high res leak to the case.