Learn How to Identify Plasma With These Examples

Matter That Is Plasma

Examples of plasma

ThoughtCo / Derek Abella
Science
Science
By
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
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Updated on October 05, 2024

One form of matter is plasma. Plasma consists of free electrons or other ions that aren't associated with atomic nuclei. You encounter it every day but may not recognize it. Here are 10 examples of plasma:

  1. lightning
  2. aurorae
  3. the excited low-pressure gas inside neon signs and fluorescent lights
  4. solar wind
  5. welding arcs
  6. the Earth's ionosphere
  7. stars (including the Sun)
  8. the tail of a comet
  9. interstellar gas clouds
  10. a fireball of a nuclear explosion
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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Learn How to Identify Plasma With These Examples." ThoughtCo, Oct. 5, 2024, thoughtco.com/examples-of-plasma-608335. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2024, October 5). Learn How to Identify Plasma With These Examples. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/examples-of-plasma-608335 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Learn How to Identify Plasma With These Examples." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/examples-of-plasma-608335 (accessed February 6, 2025).