Sunda666 writes "I have just hit this site which describes in detail how to build an one-atmosphere plasmoid using ordinary stuff and a microwave oven. Interesting thing, i'll try it as soon as I get a spherical glass vessel like that ;-)"
You don't need a "vessel" and this is old news
by
a3d0a3m
·
· Score: 5, Informative
This has been done before, and posted to slashdot before. You can do it without the glass vessel. There's an old quickies here that shows how to do it without the vessel.
Adam
Re:You don't need a "vessel" and this is old news
by
garglblaster
·
· Score: 5, Informative
Here is another page which has been around for a few years now:
Re:You don't need a "vessel" and this is old news
by
BlueUnderwear
·
· Score: 4, Informative
You can do it without the glass vessel.
Yes, but without a glass vessel, the ball lightning will be too short-lived. Indeed, due to higher temperature, it raises up, and as soon as it reaches the metal ceiling of the nuker, it collapses. The glass vessel makes sure that it can get to the metal, and hence it will stay longer (contact with glass doesn't make the plasmoid collapse, because glass doesn't conduct electricity).
I just wonder whether the shape is important, or whether an inverted drinking glass would also do the job.
-- Say no to software patents.
Re:You don't need a "vessel" and this is old news
by
DNS-and-BIND
·
· Score: 2
Rules:) How many CD's have you burned in your microwave oven? And have you build your own Tesla trafo? If not, then give them a try also...
-- * Origin: XBase BBS (2:490/4100) Well the good old days may not return and rocks might melt and sea may burn.
Don't Forget Kids...
by
Greyfox
·
· Score: 5, Funny
This is extremely hazardous and should never be tried at home. That's what the microwaves at work are there for!
--
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
What if you DON'T heed the warnings...
by
Calrathan
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
The page has a bunch of warnings saying that you shouldn't keep the microwave on for more than 10 seconds because the glass container is getting hot... If you do and it melts the glass, will it attack the ceiling of the microwave itself next? =)
Anyone have a spare microwave they don't mind sacrificing to see what happens if you just keep it going?:) (don't forget to document and give us a link!)
Re:What if you DON'T heed the warnings...
by
j3110
·
· Score: 2, Funny
yeah... just before you do it, give us your name, so we can link to your darwin award!:)
-- Karma Clown
Re:What if you DON'T heed the warnings...
by
Detritus
·
· Score: 2
Running a microwave oven with no load (food or water) can damage the magnetron.
-- Mea navis aericumbens anguillis abundat
Re:What if you DON'T heed the warnings...
by
BlueUnderwear
·
· Score: 2
That's why they suggest also putting a small glass of water inside, along with the experiment.
-- Say no to software patents.
Re:What if you DON'T heed the warnings...
by
BlueUnderwear
·
· Score: 3, Informative
If you do and it melts the glass, will it attack the ceiling of the microwave itself next? =)
No. Actually, as soon as the plasmoid touches a conductive (metal) surface, it shorts out and just collapses. The purpose of the glass vessel is not to protected the ceiling of the microvave oven, but rather to protect the plasmoid;-)
-- Say no to software patents.
Just as much fun...
by
Deltan
·
· Score: 4, Interesting
Take a non conductive container and fill it part way with water. Take your standard every day 60 Watt light bulb and submerge the threaded end into the water. Put the container into the microwave & turn it on.
Quite true! It's interesting that the resulting light show is _not_ monochomatic, as you might expect -- it flashes through many colors. Definitely worth doing.
I'm not sure whether it matters that the threaded end is submerged (or even touching the water), though. I've always had it that way, but only because that's how the bulb sits. Maybe I'll have to try...
-Billy
Re:Just as much fun...
by
Deltan
·
· Score: 3, Informative
If the threaded metallic end is not submerged the metal will spark in the microwave and you might blow up the whole works.
I've sparked metal in the microwave before (aluminum foil or an old CD). What's the danger? What exactly is going to "explode"?
True, you don't want to do it heavily or with an otherwise empty microwave; the magnetron has enough heating problems anyhow (hear that noisy fan?); but that's why you also use a dish of water, to give the microwaves something to be absorbed by. Note that the water isn't conductive (we're not adding salt), so there's no reason for it to innately prevent sparks.
I'm going to have to try this with my spare microwave. While hiding behind a concrete wall, holding a panic switch. I'm a pyro, not an idiot:-).
Well.. the first time I tried it the tip wasn't submerged the whole way and the bulb exploded in the microwave. I'm not sure if that was the reason it happened but after fully submerging the threads it just gave me a pretty light show.
Facinating! I'll have to try to recreate that. Was there any microwave damage?
I know that I've done it before without complete submersion -- perhaps I was just (un)lucky, or perhaps only the tip matters, or maybe it only hurts if there's sharpened metal (that's a general rule with MWs -- area doesn't matter, only edge).
Thanks for the pointers -- and I think I'll have to say that newbies should start by submerging their threads. At least until we figure out why yours exploded.
Anyhow, this is probably my favorite demonstration; quick, easy, cheap.
-Billy
Seen this before, be carefull!
by
j3110
·
· Score: 5, Informative
I was going to try this a year ago, but decided that I didn't really need a darwin award:) You can do it with any glass bowl and anything that burns in any microwave that you feel safe doing it in:) The brown gas you see, NO2, is toxic and is found in cigarette smoke. Be careful, it's arguably the most harmful substance in cigarettes. Not good for the atmosphere either:) I really don't think there is that much in cigarettes, and I would urge anyone foolish enough to do this (like me after a few drinks) to NOT breath the funky air!:)
You have been warned!:) http://www.epa.gov/oar/aqtrnd95/no2.html bad stuff really:) when it dissolves in your lungs, it's likely to make nitric acid, which is like to make your lungs liquid if you breath too much.
-- Karma Clown
Re:Seen this before, be carefull!
by
The+Bungi
·
· Score: 5, Funny
bad stuff really:) when it dissolves in your lungs, it's likely to make nitric acid, which is like to make your lungs liquid if you breath too much.
Dear Sir,
I smoke 3 packs a day of unfiltered Camels. Does that mean I can try your experiment with alacrity?
Please respond to me immediately.
Sincerely,
satamarnayananamayanapan guchanda
sat@hotmail.com
Re:Seen this before, be carefull!
by
Alsee
·
· Score: 3, Funny
NOT breath the funky air!
Is that kind of like "Don't eat the yellow snow"?
-
-- - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
More microwave experiments
by
eram
·
· Score: 5, Informative
Some other potentially dangerous experiments with CD:s, light bulbs and other objects in microwave owens can be found here. Looks interesting, but I personally wouldn't do that in my own kitchen.
For an even quicker thrill, try putting marshmallows in the microwave.
For those too lazy to actually get up, find marshmallows and find microwave, use this applet to cook them virtually, or check out this time lapse video.
what exactly is 'plasma'
by
haedesch
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
i may have missed something in the article, but when does a substance qualifies to be a 'plasma'? It sure looks nifty but that can't be a criterium, right?
Re:what exactly is 'plasma'
by
Ozan
·
· Score: 2, Informative
Often gas that is emitting light is being falsely named plasma, but the atoms are only being stimulated by heat or light and emit light. A real plasma is a gas which is stimulated so high that the atoms are ionized and free electrons are floating between them.
Re:GDP thruster?
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 2, Informative
...though I'd be afraid to put anything other than food in my own microwave.
Who said you had to use your own? 7-11's, university canteen's, your workplace, etc. all have "public access" microwave ovens which are perfect for this purpose...
Other items of interest:
eggs (you said you were only concerned about putting non-food items inside...)
pencils: they'll burn pretty quickly
pencil mines: they get so hot that they can melt glass...
soap: if you try this, make sure your microwave oven is very big (or only use a rather small filing of soap
the newest MSDN CD's from work (perfect for doing in the office kitchen!). Those make great office ornaments, but it's probably best if your boss and/or colleagues don't see them... Microsofties are known for their lack of sense of humor, and might not appreciate it...
chocolate, bread (again, if you're concerned about putting non-food items inside...)
Manufacturer Warnings of Old
by
MyNameIsFred
·
· Score: 5, Funny
30 years ago my father owned an applicance store, back when microwave ovens were becoming popular. GE told the store owners about some neat tricks to impress the customers.
Nothing draws them in like putting light bulbs in the microwave and letting the magic turn them on.
Not too long after they told us how to do the tricks, GE yelled STOP. It's scaring the bejebbus out of the public. We're getting frantic calls about the death rays.
We used to build plasmoid balls as physics demos for kids. My professor said it isn't bad on the microwave either.
Instead of building that complex machinery list at the webpage all you need is a standard 2-liter bottle of soda (pop for Midwesterners, coke for Texans). Cut the bottom off and discard the top (usually about 3-4 inches should do) poke hole in the side for airflow.
Now you need something to hold the match upright e.g. a.b.c. gum or a cock like them.
Light the match close the door, start the microwave. Eventually your 2-liter will melt causing even more fun.
Hot flames most certainly are ionized which is why this experiment doesn't work well with candles because the flame is too cool. The ionized carbon from the toothpick burning is what is causing the light in this shmoo. Another experiment is to ionize water and spray it out of a mister, if you light a match or other moderately hot flame and put a paper card between the mist nozzle and flame the water will go under the card and extinguish the flame. There's a sprinkler system designed for data centers which instead of normal sprinklers uses ionized misting nozzles to spray a sort of ionized fog which is attracted to the flame and snuffs it out.
When air gets hot enough it turns into a plasma which is conductive. This means it adsorbs microwaves which drives up the temperature and keeps it in the conductive plasma state. You get a ball of plasma, as long as you keep pumping in microwave energy.
The flame itself is nowhere near hot enough to create plasma to get the process started, but after a few seconds the flame, microwaves, and I think the burning object (conductive carbon) combine to trigger a little high temperature spark which can get the process going.
-
-- - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
An electrically neutral, highly ionized gas composed of ions, electrons, and neutral particles. It is a phase of matter distinct from solids, liquids, and normal gases.
-- We do not live in the 21st century. We live in the 20 second century.
The "humming" explained
by
Alsee
·
· Score: 3, Informative
If you look deeper into the website you'll see that the author goes into detail analyzing the sound produced. The humming sound is simply the frequency of the microwave electronics. The plasma itself would normally be silent. It is acting as a "speaker" based on the varying energy it gets from the microwave oven. If you take a look here you'll see projects that use the plasma effect as an extremely high quality tweeter.
-
-- - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
Re:The "humming" explained
by
XNormal
·
· Score: 2
The 250Hz sound is the 5th harmonic of the mains power (electricity in France is 50Hz). If you look carefully at the spectrum you will also see a small peak at the 3rd harmonic (150Hz). The glass vessel and/or the microwave oven itself act as a resonant cavity that emphasizes these frequencies. The fundamental frequency (50Hz) is so weak that it drowns in the noise. There are no even harmonics because the waveform is symmetrical.
--
Stop worrying about the risks of nuclear power and start worrying about the risks of not using nuclear power.
Just tried it out...
by
BlueUnderwear
·
· Score: 4, Informative
Having no suitable sperical vessel ready, I used a sawed-off plastic mineral water bottle. Having no tooth-picks ready either, I just stuck the match itself into the cork. As recommended in a previous Slashdot story about the subject, I removed the revolving plate, and put a glass of water into the back.
First attempt: the match always went out before it could produce any plasma ball. D'oh
Second attempt: rather than using a match, I stuck a long pencil mine into the cork, and set the oven to thirty seconds. 29 seconds of nothing. Then a loud whizz, and the time ran out before it could get any more interesting (should've set it to a minute).
However, this one second of action was enough to fill the bottle with a mysterious thick white fume. Question: is this the nytrogen oxyde that the article speaks about, or was it only the plastic burning (other than the fumes, there were no obvious traces of burn on the bottle). Worrying that the fumes might be toxic, I didn't repeat the experiment.
-- Say no to software patents.
Re:Just tried it out...
by
BlueUnderwear
·
· Score: 3, Interesting
Ok, curiosity was stronger than worry:
Third attempt: more or less same setup as previously, but a little less water in the "load" glass, and using a larger cork, so that the mine could stand upright without leaning against the bottle. A spark appeared already early on in the experiment, but didn't cause a ball. However, the same candle-flavored fumes started appearing again. Then it hit me: they came from the cork, which was heated by the pencil mine stuck into it. Indeed, the cork had small traces of burn. Still no plasmoid, alas.
Fourth attempt: Figuring that strength of microwaves might depend on orientation, I broke a small piece off the mine, and stuck it into the cork, horizontally, rather than vertically. Soon indeed sparks, and then a ball of fire appeared, but unfortunately the pleasure was rather short-lived: the plasmoid set fire to the plastic bottle, and thus I had to stop the mess. Ok, I'll have to hunt for a suitable glass vessel.
Ok, I'll have to hunt for a suitable glass vessel.
Go to Home Depot or any home improvement store and go to the lighting department. You can get glass globes for light fixtures for a couple of bucks. I can only assume they are heat tolerant, as lightbulbs get prety hot.
I've tried this several times with varying degrees of sucsess. For those of you with plenty of time, try repeating the experiment with a glass container not given enough ventilation. When the plasmoid ignites (lights? is born? stabilizes?) it radiates a lot of heat. Without proper ventilation the glass vessle will jump upwards with a satisfying bang. The flash is quite impressive for the easily amused.
As for the sound, there is some sound produced other than the low pitch hum of the microwave itself, sort of a buzzing noise.
I once saw a page describing this experiment, but this person had taken the magnetron tube out of the microwave, mounted it in a very sexy looking raygun type configuration. It looked exceedingly dangerous. I'm sure all the reflected radiation was an excellent stimulation to his fertility.
I made a microwave gun in electronics. Proper shielding, power, everything. I was..16 maybe? I made sure it was safe on me. My first experiment was to aim it at a computer. Insta-bluescreen/reboot. That was cool. I also told the people around me not to step in front of it, but apparently they had more things to worry about than the thermal integrity of their flesh/organs/pocket contents.
-- Job? I don't have time to get a job! Who will sit around and bitch about being broke and unemployed then?
Re:GDP thruster?
by
Sunda666
·
· Score: 2, Informative
GDP thrusters are a very kewl concept, but I think they might be very poluent.
Man, that site is full of cool research, check it out, especially the lifter experiments.
--
``If a program can't rewrite its own code, what good is it?'' - Mel
Forget the microwave: Aircraft plasma propulsion
by
schmaltz
·
· Score: 2
The greater context of this guy's site is a series of experiments aimed at using plasma generators to provide thrust for a new generation of aircraft. With one type of thruster, they've achieved accelerations up to 480 m/s (for the liquid medium, not the aircraft, not yet.)
This was news to me, and I'm finding the concept and science behind plasma thrusters fascinating (this is a link off the microwave page.)
Slashdot Mirror
This has been done before, and posted to slashdot before. You can do it without the glass vessel. There's an old quickies here that shows how to do it without the vessel.
Adam
Rules :)
How many CD's have you burned in your microwave oven? And have you build your own Tesla trafo? If not, then give them a try also...
* Origin: XBase BBS (2:490/4100) Well the good old days may not return and rocks might melt and sea may burn.
This is extremely hazardous and should never be tried at home. That's what the microwaves at work are there for!
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
The page has a bunch of warnings saying that you shouldn't keep the microwave on for more than 10 seconds because the glass container is getting hot... If you do and it melts the glass, will it attack the ceiling of the microwave itself next? =)
:) (don't forget to document and give us a link!)
Anyone have a spare microwave they don't mind sacrificing to see what happens if you just keep it going?
Take a non conductive container and fill it part way with water. Take your standard every day 60 Watt light bulb and submerge the threaded end into the water. Put the container into the microwave & turn it on.
Fun light show...wheee!
I was going to try this a year ago, but decided that I didn't really need a darwin award :) You can do it with any glass bowl and anything that burns in any microwave that you feel safe doing it in :) The brown gas you see, NO2, is toxic and is found in cigarette smoke. Be careful, it's arguably the most harmful substance in cigarettes. Not good for the atmosphere either :) I really don't think there is that much in cigarettes, and I would urge anyone foolish enough to do this (like me after a few drinks) to NOT breath the funky air! :)
:) :) when it dissolves in your lungs, it's likely to make nitric acid, which is like to make your lungs liquid if you breath too much.
You have been warned!
http://www.epa.gov/oar/aqtrnd95/no2.html
bad stuff really
Karma Clown
Some other potentially dangerous experiments with CD:s, light bulbs and other objects in microwave owens can be found here. Looks interesting, but I personally wouldn't do that in my own kitchen.
There's always a funky-looking microwave in 7-11s for cooking your burritos and whatnot...
For those too lazy to actually get up, find marshmallows and find microwave, use this applet to cook them virtually, or check out this time lapse video.
For those craving more of an intellectual thrill, find the speed of light with marshmallows using a microwave.
i may have missed something in the article, but when does a substance qualifies to be a 'plasma'?
It sure looks nifty but that can't be a criterium, right?
Who said you had to use your own? 7-11's, university canteen's, your workplace, etc. all have "public access" microwave ovens which are perfect for this purpose...
Other items of interest:
Nothing draws them in like putting light bulbs in the microwave and letting the magic turn them on.
Not too long after they told us how to do the tricks, GE yelled STOP. It's scaring the bejebbus out of the public. We're getting frantic calls about the death rays.
How times have changed.
We used to build plasmoid balls as physics demos for kids. My professor said it isn't bad on the microwave either.
Instead of building that complex machinery list at the webpage all you need is a standard 2-liter bottle of soda (pop for Midwesterners, coke for Texans). Cut the bottom off and discard the top (usually about 3-4 inches should do) poke hole in the side for airflow.
Now you need something to hold the match upright e.g. a.b.c. gum or a cock like them.
Light the match close the door, start the microwave. Eventually your 2-liter will melt causing even more fun.
vossman
You wanna make plasma? Light a match.
explaining to me what the hell this is?
When air gets hot enough it turns into a plasma which is conductive. This means it adsorbs microwaves which drives up the temperature and keeps it in the conductive plasma state. You get a ball of plasma, as long as you keep pumping in microwave energy.
The flame itself is nowhere near hot enough to create plasma to get the process started, but after a few seconds the flame, microwaves, and I think the burning object (conductive carbon) combine to trigger a little high temperature spark which can get the process going.
-
- - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
An electrically neutral, highly ionized gas composed of ions, electrons, and neutral particles. It is a phase of matter distinct from solids, liquids, and normal gases.
We do not live in the 21st century. We live in the 20 second century.
If you look deeper into the website you'll see that the author goes into detail analyzing the sound produced. The humming sound is simply the frequency of the microwave electronics. The plasma itself would normally be silent. It is acting as a "speaker" based on the varying energy it gets from the microwave oven. If you take a look here you'll see projects that use the plasma effect as an extremely high quality tweeter.
-
- - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
First attempt: the match always went out before it could produce any plasma ball. D'oh
Second attempt: rather than using a match, I stuck a long pencil mine into the cork, and set the oven to thirty seconds. 29 seconds of nothing. Then a loud whizz, and the time ran out before it could get any more interesting (should've set it to a minute). However, this one second of action was enough to fill the bottle with a mysterious thick white fume. Question: is this the nytrogen oxyde that the article speaks about, or was it only the plastic burning (other than the fumes, there were no obvious traces of burn on the bottle). Worrying that the fumes might be toxic, I didn't repeat the experiment.
Say no to software patents.
I've tried this several times with varying
degrees of sucsess. For those of you with
plenty of time, try repeating the experiment
with a glass container not given enough
ventilation. When the plasmoid ignites
(lights? is born? stabilizes?) it radiates
a lot of heat. Without proper ventilation
the glass vessle will jump upwards with a
satisfying bang. The flash is quite impressive
for the easily amused.
As for the sound, there is some sound produced
other than the low pitch hum of the microwave
itself, sort of a buzzing noise.
I once saw a page describing this experiment,
but this person had taken the magnetron tube
out of the microwave, mounted it in a very
sexy looking raygun type configuration. It
looked exceedingly dangerous. I'm sure all the
reflected radiation was an excellent
stimulation to his fertility.
Such wonderful toys.
GDP thrusters are a very kewl concept, but I think they might be very poluent.
Man, that site is full of cool research, check it out, especially the lifter experiments.
``If a program can't rewrite its own code, what good is it?'' - Mel
The greater context of this guy's site is a series of experiments aimed at using plasma generators to provide thrust for a new generation of aircraft. With one type of thruster, they've achieved accelerations up to 480 m/s (for the liquid medium, not the aircraft, not yet.)
This was news to me, and I'm finding the concept and science behind plasma thrusters fascinating (this is a link off the microwave page.)
Plus, there's a far more interesting experiment, where he shows you how to build your own plasma panel.
Big Daddy, Johnny, Burp, Aunt Zelda, Scott, Slurp, Big Momma