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Why Does this Work?
Fluorescent lighting works similarly to plasma globes, by illuminating
the gas inside them using a high-frequency current. When you put
the fluorescent light close to the plasma globe, the electromagnetic
field around the globe induces a current inside the fluorescent tube,
causing the tube to illuminate in much the same way as if it were
plugged in.
Variation on the Experiment
This experiment can also be performed with a
neon flicker bulb. Neon flicker bulbs are the
small teardrop or candle-flame shaped bulbs
that are often used to simulate candle-light in
chandeliers and other decorative lighting. They
have a bright orange flickering movement that
looks similar to a burning candle. You can find
them in most home-hardware stores, as well
as in other large stores that sell decorative lighting.
Neon flicker bulbs are filled with
low-pressure neon gas, and
instead of a filament, they have
two small flat electrodes inside
them that energize the neon
gas. Neon flicker bulbs are very
sensitive to the magnetic fields
generated by a plasma globe, and
will begin to glow when they are several inches away from the globe.
By putting a flicker bulb close to your plasma globe, you can get lots
of neat effects inside of the bulb, some of them similar to plasma
globe effects. The effects should become more intense as you bring
the bulb closer to the plasma globe.
Neon Flicker Bulb
Flicker Bulb reacting to the Plasma Globe’s field.
