By Victor Ekpo

We all know that there are three states of matter � solid, liquid and gas. Well, we are wrong. There are actually four states (phases) of matter. Plasma is the fourth state.

The funny thing about that is that as far as is known, plasma is the most common state of matter in the universe. Stars are made almost solely from plasma, and since stars comprise about 99% of the known universe, plasma is actually the most abundant nature form of matter. Plasma can also be found on Earth, both naturally and artificially.

Plasma is typically an ionized gas, and is considered a distinct state of matter because of its unique properties.

The biggest chunk of plasma we see is that yellow stuff up there that sustains life � the sun. The sun itself being a star.

The sun�s enormous heat rips electrons off the hydrogen and helium gas molecules that make up the sun, so that it becomes ionized. In this mad rush, particles are constantly bumping into each other. These collisions excite the gas atoms in the plasma, causing them to release photons of energy, which is what we see as light from the sun.

The name �Plasma� was first used by Irvin Langmuir in 1928, perhaps because it reminded him of blood plasma. Plasma was however first identified about fifty years before then, in 1879 by Sir Williams Crookes, though he called it �radiant matter�.

Since plasma is a gas that has been energized to the point that some of the electrons break free from, but still travel with their nucleus, plasmas can be created from gases in several ways.

One of such ways is pumping the gas with certain amounts of energy. Gases can be energized using heat or more commonly, some kind of electricity to form plasma.

This energy changes the gas into the fourth state of matter, just as heat changes ice from the first state of matter, a solid, into the second state, a liquid, and from a liquid into gas.

Plasma torches produced in this way, are used in industry to cut metals. Plasma television, which is fast becoming popular, equally contains artificially produced plasmas. In the case of Plasma TV, the gases Xeon and Neon are used, to release light photons when they are excited.

During electrical storms, plasma is formed due to the electrical charge stored in clouds rushing to the ground, in a process called lightning. The normal lightning we know about during rain. Using large amounts of electricity, a miniature lightning bolt can be made, commonly called electrical arcs. Arcs are used for a variety of purposes such as cutting and welding metals.

Other forms of artificially produced plasma can be found in fluorescent lamps (low energy lightning), neon signs, rocket exhaust, plasma ball, amongst others. Plasma is also used to etch dielectric layers in the production of integrated circuits (ICs).

The earth has a �plasma fountain� with oxygen, helium and hydrogen ions gushing into space from regions near the earth�s poles. Plasma fountain, called the polar aurorae, is an example of natural plasma, alongside lightning.

Fire is frequently referred as being a low temperature partial plasma, although it does not have energy high enough to be ionized like regular plasma.

Based on the relative temperatures of the electrons, ions and neutrals, plasmas can be classified as thermal or non-thermal. Thermal plasmas have electrons and the heavy particles at the same temperature. Non-thermal plasmas, on the other hand, have the ions and neutrals at a much lower temperature whereas electrons are much hotter.

Temperature controls the degree of plasma ionization. Plasma ionization is more strictly defined by the electron temperature relative to the ionization energy.

In this vein, plasma can therefore be referred to as being �hot� if it is nearly fully ionized, or �cold� if only a tiny fraction of the gas molecules are ionized.

Both lightning and electrical arcs are very hot kinds of plasma whereas fluorescent light bulb, neon signs, plasma TV and devices used to manufacture microelectric chips are considered cold.

These cold devices usually contain gases maintained at very low pressures (near vacuum) so that the plasma forms evenly inside the devices.

Physicists consider plasma to be different from gas because of a number of distinct properties: including electrical conductivity � gases are good insulators but plasma conducts; independently acting species � all gas particles behave in similar ways whereas the electron, ions and neutrals in plasma behave independently having different velocities and even different temperatures.

Other distinct properties are that gases have Maxwellian velocity distribution always but plasma may not. In gases also, two-particle collisions are the rule with three-body collisions extremely rare. On the other hand, in plasmas, each particle interacts simultaneously with many others. These collective interactions are ten times more important than two-particle collisions.

In summary, plasma is an important state of matter used in science and for technology development. It can be used in vacuum plasmaspraying, in plasma televisions, welding and cutting metals, to generate power (fusion energy), for food processing (non-thermal plasma) and in waste recycling#

Spectacular Chemical Elements

Do you know much about Chemical elements, compounds or at least a little bit of chemistry?

Here are some tips for you to learn. This is very important if you are a chemistry student. I wrote this down when I was doing some reading for university entrance exam.

The Most Important and the First Elements to learn of.

• Oxygen
  • Most abundant element that exist
  • Most abundant element in earth crust
• Silicon
  • 2nd most abundant element in earth crust
• Aluminium
  • Third most abundant element in earth crust
• Hydrogen
  • Lightest element
• Diamond
  • Hardest substance
• Flourine
  • Most reactive element
• Nitrogen
  • Most abundant element in air
• Oxygen
  • 2nd most abundant element in air
• Water
  • Most abundant compound that exists
• Air
  • Most abundant mixture that exists
• Aluminium
  • Most abundant metal in earth crust
• Iron
  • Second most abundant metal in earth crust
• Silver
  • Best metallic conductor
• Copper
  • 2nd best metallic conductor

The World Spins On

The world continues in an ellipse
Revolving slower, faster and still on
With the same forces acting -
Pulling and pushing in like fashion

Seasons change as it goes
Clouds more often than sunshine
Rain though only for a while
And sun for the rest of each day

The world continues in an ellipse
With the sun at one foci
Supplying energy at all times
To all latitudes and longitudes

The world spins as it goes
Day, night taking turns
Both almost equal in time
One lengthening at different seasons

The world revolves like our lives
With rain, clouds and sunshine
We making hay while the sun shines
Always saving for the rainy day

Every season we may complain
Of soil or yield
Thorns or labour tools
Each season bringing its challenges

Seldom we experience an eclipse
With effect darker than the night
Thick enough for everyone to see
But lasting only for a splint second

Yet our lives continue to spin like the world
The gains during youth
Determine the rest in retirement
Knowing our lives must spin on.

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I like using analogy. It makes things get deeper and clearer meanings. This my first poem of 2007. I've always felt like writing a poem with my knowledge of Physics, and astrophysics has a hand in the use of such words as 'ellipse', 'foci', 'eclipse' in this poem. Maybe what I like most about the poem is that scientific undertone. Hope you enjoyed it. These are my intended interpretations for the verses. However, the poem is still being re-constructed continually, so this might not be the final version. Your ideas?

Verse 1: Everything is a bit samey almost all the time
Verse 2: Life is mainly a struggle, troubles come in small doses (rain) and enjoyment is present for a longer time even in the midst of all the struggle
Verse 3: In which ever situation, a driving force keeps us going
Verse 4: The good, the bad are present in each day
Verse 5: The money we make in splendour helps us in difficult situations
Verse 6: If we have a job, then too much stress; if we don't, the government is terrible. We always always complain.
Verse 7: A devastating experience creeps in now and then, like the death of a loved one
Verse 8: Youth is an (only) opportunity for a good future. The future will always come.#

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Success

From God to the favoured
Given to them to savour
That their lives may have flavour
And the poor a saviour

It might come in the twinkling of an eye
Or might wait till you walk through the aisle
And even though it takes a while
The end thereof is simply a flourishing isle

Hardwork is the key
Yea, wisdom you need too keen
Never use it to kill
But like David, look up to the hills

You are king
Remember you were once a kid
With family who cared
Do your best for everyone you can

YOU ARE A SUCCESS!

Originally composed by me, Victor Ekpo
8.55am, 30 May 06

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Open the floodgates of heaven
Let it rain
Drown my tears with your water
"Smile," you say, "and I'll send lightning your way"

Let it rain
Let the thunders roar
Lest my drumming heartbeat be heard
And my fears be made known

Rain and water soil
Remind of that season
When sowing is rewarded with reaping
Yes, I'll sow hardwork today

The clouds are happy
Didn't the wise one say, "there is joy in sharing?"
Teach me rain to give
That my bossom be replenished with even more

Rain, please rain
One drop doesn't make an ocean
I extend a hand of fellowship to everyone
That I may achieve a greater feat

Rain, rain
Don't go away
Come again another day
I truly truly want to sleep

Let it rain!

Originally composed by me, Victor Ekpo
On the rainy day of 22nd May 2006

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The Indispensables

Friends, a strong shoulder they offer
When awful emotions overwhelm you
And tears are the best you can shed

A confident hand they lend
When disappointment is your cake
And discouragement simply envelopes you

Friends, what a sweet voice to hear
When disaster strikes
And the feeling of dejection sneaks in

Can you feel the love
When accomplishment is here
And that faithful one just smiles in

Oh, my (friend)
How empty I'll be without you
I need you!

Originally composed by me, Victor Ekpo
11th Dec., 2005.

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Fashion

Encompassing clothing, beauty and style
It emanates from the mind
Viewed physically
And is an expression of an inner beauty.

Be it man or woman
Old or young
For God creating us unique
We can't but create our own version of it.

And though we create it and make it our slave
Yet it tells everyone of our thoughts without seeking our permission
Translating a message everyone well understands
Speaking of it as part of our personality.

Now, we have to be careful of what we create
Our first word for a stranger it is
Spoken so well for eyes to see
This CIA agent is best known by the name, Fashion.

Originally composed by me, Victor Ekpo
21st August, 2005.

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On the Lane

Walking majestically on the lanes of love
I found a beauty that surpassed the sun
A beauty that shone from in and out
And its beauty could easily be too bright to behold.

I found myself under a shade
A shade that only God could have provided
And from there could view this beauty
This beauty of love, peace and hope.

I now know this beauty is mine
What God proposes is what is here
I fully wish you agree to stay here with me
In this light of your beauty

We would make a happy pair
A fruitful and prosperous one
I promise you my all and hope you do
And I know this love will never part.

Originally composed by me, Victor Ekpo
10th July, 2005.

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If only you find

Search the world for
Eyes that can distinguish black from white
Ears that know truth from lies
A nose that aches when it smells bad
A mouth that edifies

I need someone with
A child's love, to enclose me
A youth's strength, to go all the way with me
An adult's stability, to be there when I panic
The aged's patience, to tolerate me always

If u discover one whose
Hands can work
Legs will stay
Body is pure
And whose heart is mine

Then tell her I am on the aisle waiting
If only you find.

Originally composed by me, Victor Ekpo
29th September, 2005.