What is Plasma? The matter in stars?

Question

What is Plasma? The matter in stars?

Answer 1

2 other things to Lucas' post. Although the electrons have been stripped, the net charge on the plasma is still zero. Also, a flame is another good example of a plasma.

Answer 2

Plasma is the "4th state of matter" after solid, liquid, and gas.

When molecules have very little energy, they don't move around very much, and are quite tightly-bound to each other by attractive forces, and are a solid.

If you give them a bit more energy, they can overcome some of the attractive forces between each other, and can move around - but they still stay in contact with each other; this is a liquid.

Even more energy results in the molecules being totally able to overcome any attractive forces and whizz around away from each other at high speed. This is a gas.

At the highest levels of energy, you give the molecules so much energy, that the atoms in them ionize. You have not only allowed the molecules to overcome attractive forces, but you have also given enough energy for the (negatively-charged) electrons orbiting the atoms to overcome the electromagnetic attraction to the (positively-charged) nucleus. The electrons head off on their own, and you have ionised matter: plasma.

Answer 3

A plasma display panel (PDP) is a type of flat panel display now commonly used for large TV displays (typically above 37-inch or 940 mm). Many tiny cells located between two panels of glass hold an inert mixture of noble gases (neon and xenon). The gas in the cells is electrically turned into a plasma which then excites phosphors to emit light. Plasma displays are commonly confused with LCDs, another lightweight flatscreen display but with very different technology.

Answer 4

Plasma is any matter that has been heated to the point that electrons are being stripped away from its atoms.  For that reason, plasma is an excellent conductor of electricity.  Plasma IS found in stars, but it is also created during a lightning strike and formed in very small amounts in a plasma TV (hence the name).

Plasma is also the name given to the liquid portion of blood, but that has nothing to do with the stuff stars are made of...it's just a coincidence that they have the same name.

I hope that helps.  Good luck!

EDIT:  Hanneman, good point.  I completely forgot to mention that the net charge would be zero.