List 3 characteristics of Gases and Plasma.

Biology · High School · Mon Jan 18 2021

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Here are three characteristics of gases and plasma:

Gases:

  1. Expansion: Gases lack a fixed shape and volume. They expand to fill the container they occupy completely. This property allows gases to take the shape and volume of their container and allows them to flow and diffuse readily.
  2. Low Density: Compared to liquids and solids, gases have low densities. The particles in a gas are typically much farther apart from each other, resulting in low mass per unit volume.
  3. Compressibility: Gases are highly compressible. Under pressure, the volume of a gas can significantly decrease because gas particles are highly mobile and can be squeezed closer together without undergoing significant repulsion.

Plasma:

  1. Ionization: Plasma consists of ions and free electrons. When energy is added to a gas, it can become ionized, leading to the formation of positively charged ions and free electrons. This ionization process gives plasma its unique electrical conductivity properties.
  2. High Energy: Plasma contains high energy particles. The particles in a plasma state are highly energized due to the presence of free electrons and ions, enabling plasma to conduct electricity, emit light, and respond strongly to electromagnetic forces.
  3. Response to Magnetic Fields: Plasma can be influenced by magnetic fields. Charged particles in plasma respond to magnetic fields, leading to behaviors like confinement in magnetic fields or the formation of complex plasma structures under the influence of magnetic forces.