Plasma Ball Gases

Most recent answer: 10/22/2007

Q:
What gas is used inside of plasma balls?
- Daimhin (age 17)
Adelaide, Australia
A:
Daimhin -

There are a wide variety of gases that can be used in a plasma ball. Probably the most common, since they produce such bright light are helium and neon. (I believe that the plasma ball that the Physics Van uses contains a mixture of helium and neon, although I am not certain.) Different gases produce light of not only different intensities, but of different colors. The light that comes from helium is blue-purple and neon makes orange-red. Other gases that can be used, with varying results, include nitrogen, carbon dioxide, xenon, argon, krypton, and even air.

For more information on plasma balls, the source of this info, and more details on the other gases that I mentioned, check out this .

-Tamara

(published on 10/22/2007)