Where is plasma found in the universe

And so is our sun, the star that makes life on earth possible. Just as a liquid will boil, changing into a gas when energy is added, heating a gas will form a plasma — a soup of positively charged particles ions and negatively charged particles electrons. Because so much of the universe is made of plasma, its behavior and properties are of intense interest to scientists in many disciplines.

Despite what a lot of people think, space isn't actually empty, and the Earth's magnetosphere is no exception!

The magnetosphere is full of plasma of many different temperatures and densities - though most of it is too tenuous to see with the naked eye or even with a telescope. The air at sea level has a ,,,,,, particles per cubic centimetre and a temperature of 20 degrees C.

The densest, coldest part of the magnetosphere, the plasmasphere has between 10 and 10, particles per cubic centimetre and a temperature of 58, degrees C - hotter than the surface of the Sun! All of the plasma in the magnetosphere comes from either the ionopshere or the solar wind. One of the great mysteries of the magnetosphere is how all of these different plasmas are produced from only those two starting points.

Images from space have shown us that the aurora form ovals centred around Earth's magnetic poles. B ut our understanding of the plasmasphere is not complete. For one thing, all the various measurements have resulted in many independent models of specific plasma regions. By combining previous work, Gallagher's model attempts to describe, mathematically, a general, complete image of the plasmasphere. The consequences are that lighter elements escape. But Earth's magnetic field traps much of this escaping gas.

A planet like Mars that has, at best, a weak magnetic field, also has a very thin atmosphere. Some researchers have speculated that the Earth's magnetic field may pla. Gallagher's model may contribute to our understanding of how the Earth's plasma affects our quality of life. Radio waves and power lines are affected by the presence of plasma, as are satellites and the Space Shuttle. Plasma can cause an electric charge to accumulate on one part of a spacecraft but not another, sometimes resulting in an electric arc, or discharge.

These electric arcs can disrupt or destroy sensitive electronic components.