MadSci Network: Physics |
For backround, the Plasma Light Bulb exp. is when an incondescent light bulb is placed into a microwave, with a cup of water. When the microwave is started, streams of plasma move from the filliment to the outer edges of the glass bulb. I did this many times before, and got the same result. Once, and only once, I went through the same prosedure, but when the microwave was started, the bulb created plasma for only a few seconds. Than suddenly, the plasma dissapeared, and a pinkish-blue light came from the bulb... it came increasingly brighter, and pinker... untill the light being produced was SO very bright, I couldn't look at the microwave without shielding my eyes.... I stoped the microwave after about 30 seconds after the light had gotten to it's brightest point... the lightbulb had a "wart", or a bubble of glass, where it appears the glass on that portion of the bulb was melting, something must have been pushing outward (I dont think its pressure, because from my understanding, incondesent lightbulbs contain less of an atmosphere than 1) The mircowave worked fine after the expirement, and still does to this day. Any idea on what happend? I asked teachers, and tried it with them as well, but I couldn't reproduce the same result... They were stumped as well as to what accoured. Thanks David S.
Re: When trying the 'Plasma Light bulb' exp, I had ODD results...
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