Plasma, The Most Common Phase of Matter in the Universe

The video explores the phenomenon of St. Elmo's Fire, a glowing plasma seen by sailors, and explains plasma as the fourth state of matter. It covers the discovery of plasma by William Crookes and its naming by Irving Langmuir. Plasma's unique properties, such as high conductivity and responsiveness to magnetic fields, are discussed, along with its presence in everyday items like fluorescent lights and its abundance in space, including stars and the intergalactic medium.

What did sailors historically believe about the glowing sphere of light known as St. Elmo's Fire?

• It was a sign of an impending storm.

• It was a sign of a shipwreck.

• It was a bad omen.

• It was a good omen indicating the end of a storm.

Who first discovered the phenomenon that would later be called plasma?

• Albert Einstein

• Irving Langmuir

• Sir William Crookes

• Isaac Newton

What makes plasma different from a regular gas?

• It contains neutral atoms.

• It is colder than gas.

• It is less conductive than gas.

• It is made of ions and electrons.

How is plasma used in everyday life?

• In fluorescent lights

• In incandescent bulbs

• In batteries

• In solar panels

What percentage of the normal matter in the universe is thought to be in the form of plasma?

• 75%

• 50%

• 10%

• 25%