How does this electric orb thing work?

Question

My uncle got me this cool electric orb that looks like a contained electric storm and when you touch it the bolts of electricity gather around your hand. My questions are:

What is it called? (scientific name)?

Who invented/discovered it?

How does it work?

Why does it react to touch?

AND

Can I make one myself for an affordable science project?

Thanks in advance for any informative answer you can give. I really appreciate it!

Answer 1

What is it called? (scientific name)?

Plasma Ball

Who invented/discovered it?

Plasma Ball is its original. So Nikola Tesla invented it.

How does it work?

Although there are many variations, a plasma lamp is usually a clear glass orb, filled with a mixture of various gases at low pressure, and driven by high frequency alternating current at high voltage (approx. 35 kHz, 2–5 kV), generated by a high voltage transformer. A much smaller orb in its center serves as an electrode. Plasma filaments extend from the inner electrode to the outer glass insulator, giving the appearance of multiple constant beams of colored light (see corona discharge and electric glow discharge). The beams initially follow the electric field lines of the dipole, but move upwards due to convection.[citation needed]

Placing a hand near the glass alters the high-frequency electric field[citation needed], causing a single beam to migrate from the inner ball to the point of contact. An electric current is produced within any conductive object near the orb, as the glass does not block the electromagnetic field created by the electric current flowing through the plasma (though the insulator does block the current itself).[citation needed] The glass acts as a dielectric in a capacitor formed between the ionized gas and the hand.

Why does it react to touch?

Plasma filaments extend from the inner electrode to the outer glass insulator, giving the appearance of multiple constant beams of colored light (see corona discharge and electric glow discharge). The beams initially follow the electric field lines of the dipole, but move upwards due to convection.[citation needed]

Can I make one myself for an affordable science project?

Of Course. But with a little need from experts.