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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 (Score:5, Informative)
Adam
Re:You don't need a "vessel" and this is old news (Score:1)
John
Re:You don't need a "vessel" and this is old news (Score:5, Informative)
the "funny things to do with your microwave oven" [utwente.nl] page
I like the one with the CDs !!
Re:You don't need a "vessel" and this is old news (Score:2)
Umm (Score:1)
Mind explaining to me what the hell this is?
Thanks.
Re:Umm (Score:3, Informative)
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.
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Re:You don't need a "vessel" and this is old news (Score:4, Informative)
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.
Sci-Home (Score:2, Interesting)
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...
Don't Forget Kids... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Don't Forget Kids... (Score:1)
What if you DON'T heed the warnings... (Score:2, Interesting)
Anyone have a spare microwave they don't mind sacrificing to see what happens if you just keep it going?
Re:What if you DON'T heed the warnings... (Score:2, Funny)
7-11 (Score:3, Funny)
Re:What if you DON'T heed the warnings... (Score:1)
Re:What if you DON'T heed the warnings... (Score:2)
Re:What if you DON'T heed the warnings... (Score:2)
Re:What if you DON'T heed the warnings... (Score:1)
Re:What if you DON'T heed the warnings... (Score:3, Informative)
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 ;-)
Re:What if you DON'T heed the warnings... (Score:1)
GDP thruster? (Score:1)
Their article on their GDP thruster design is also pretty interesting - does anybody know how viable this would actually be?
Re:GDP thruster? (Score:2, Informative)
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:
Re:GDP thruster? (Score:2, Informative)
Man, that site is full of cool research, check it out, especially the lifter experiments.
Just as much fun... (Score:4, Interesting)
Fun light show...wheee!
Re:Just as much fun... (Score:2)
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... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Just as much fun... (Score:2)
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
-Billy
Re:Just as much fun... (Score:2)
Re:Just as much fun... (Score:2)
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! (Score:5, Informative)
You have been warned!
http://www.epa.gov/oar/aqtrnd95/no2.html
bad stuff really
Re:Seen this before, be carefull! (Score:5, Funny)
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! (Score:1)
Re:Seen this before, be carefull! (Score:3, Funny)
Is that kind of like "Don't eat the yellow snow"?
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That's why I love consumer electronics (Score:1)
Now it's the centerpiece of an, oh, maybe $80 toy [dealtime.com], destroyed in the name of junk science.
More microwave experiments (Score:5, Informative)
Re:More microwave experiments (Score:1)
I just tried the lightbulb. It was quite impressive: no results for about two seconds, then some very pretty colors, though I was slightly worried that somehow the radiation produced would be unhealthy. I hope not. After a few seconds (10 or so), it exploded, with little bits of glass coating the bottom of the microwave.
Oops.
Good thing I was already planning on doing some cleaning today.
Tons of interesting stuff (Score:1, Interesting)
like field effect propulsion and antigravity.
Check http://jnaudin.free.fr/advpmnu.htm
Re:care to explain it? (Score:1)
Search engines all over this (Score:1)
I kinda like asking Geeves questions "Hey Jeeves, old buddy, do you happen to know what the heck a plasmoid is?" It's so much more conversational than barking orders like "plasmoid" at google. *grin*
Marshmallows: poor man's plasma (Score:5, Informative)
For those too lazy to actually get up, find marshmallows and find microwave, use this applet [colorado.edu] to cook them virtually, or check out this time lapse video [angelfire.com].
For those craving more of an intellectual thrill, find the speed of light with marshmallows [bowlesphysics.com] using a microwave.
what exactly is 'plasma' (Score:2, Interesting)
It sure looks nifty but that can't be a criterium, right?
Plasma: (Score:2)
Re:what exactly is 'plasma' (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Nice Blue flash (Score:1, Interesting)
Manufacturer Warnings of Old (Score:5, Funny)
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.
Easier way (Score:2, Interesting)
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
Re:Easier way (Score:2, Funny)
I think I'll pass on that one.;-)
Tune in next week when we will show you how to build a hydrogen fusion containment vessel using your bath tub.
Big deal (Score:2)
Re:Big deal (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Big deal (Score:2)
Same sort of result but generated a different way? (Score:1)
http://www.amasci.com/weird/unusual/b
Whats the link's here people? A fair bit sounds the same. Now if you could get ball lightning inside your microwave, the sort that goes through glass....
The "humming" explained (Score:3, Informative)
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Re:The "humming" explained (Score:2)
Just tried it out... (Score:4, Informative)
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.
Re:Just tried it out... (Score:3, Interesting)
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.
Re:Just tried it out... (Score:2)
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.
big fun time (Score:2, Interesting)
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.
Re:big fun time (Score:1)
Me: So what are you going to do after you are done, i.e. made the Plasmoid Fireball?
The Roommate: We'll just open the door and let it go free like nature intended.
Eheheheh.
Re:big fun time (Score:2)
The classic way (Score:1)
It is fairly safe, but the oven should be 'expendable'. AFAIK, no toxic fumes are produced as in the case of CD's and if you don't destroy your oven, you can still warm over your food.
It's baaaaack ... (Score:1)
This same page was posted a year or so ago. It's neat, it's fun, it has geek-appeal, and it's mildly dangerous in an MTV "Jackass" sort of way.
Forget the microwave: Aircraft plasma propulsion (Score:2)
This was news to me, and I'm finding the concept and science [jnaudin.free.fr] 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 [jnaudin.free.fr].
Kind of safe and very fun (Score:1)
The plasma thing with the match works because the flame is plasma. Plasma absorbs microwaves. The microwave energy heats the flame more, superheating air around it, and it makes a big burst of brillianltly bright plasma, sometimes. Ive had huge bursts that go up to the top of the microwave out of a little burning match.
It is completly safe to you. Absolutely safe. Once the microwave is off the plasma/arc/whatever instantly dissapears since it's power source is cut off. It may not be safe for your microwave.
To be safe with you microwave, take these steps:
1. Have a cup of water off in the corner of you microwave. This prevents your magnetron from overheating by absorbing excess microwaves. Yes, it may reduce the intensity of the plasma a little, but it saves your microwave. If you do this, there is no real way of hurting your microwave. The magnetron can't be fried if you got some water in there. The worst that could happen is you could get scorch marks in your microwave.
2. Limit the time to about 20 secs. The cup of water should prevent anything bad from happening. Just to be safe though.
Also, use matches, not a candle. A candles' flame is not hot enough to absorb enough microwaves to make a good plasma.
Cheap spherical glass vessels (Score:1)
also, beware that plasmoids produce 'real' heat that will keep the glass hot for a longer period of time (as opposed to the 'fake' microwave heat that seems to quickly dissipate)
-shpoffo