We Are Family
Lucy Wu
Award: Top 100
School: taipei american school
Teacher: bruce cameron
Category: Contrived
Photo #21337
We Are Family
In my photo, I used a plasma ball to visualize the electric fields and the behavior of charged particles. A plasma ball contains a combination of low-pressure gases enclosed within a glass sphere and a high-voltage electrode at the center. When an alternating voltage is applied, the strong electric field ionizes the gas, taking away electrons from atoms and creating plasma, which is often referred to as the fourth state of matter.
The bright filaments visible in the image are pathways where ionization is concentrated. And as electrons accelerate through the gas, they collide with atoms and transfer energy to them. When these excited atoms return to lower energy states, they emit photons, producing the glowing streams of light that is seen inside the plasma ball.
To create the photograph, I placed my fingers around the glass surface. Although the plasma doesn't physically touch my hand, my body acts as a conductor and influences the surrounding electric field. This lowers the electrical resistance along certain paths, causing multiple filaments to converge toward the points of contact. The effect makes the plasma appear to reach toward my fingers.
This image captures an invisible force made visible. What resembles a family gathered around a glowing sphere is actually a demonstration of how electric fields govern the motion of charged particles, transforming electrical energy into light through the interactions between matter and electromagnetism. And for a moment, the plasma seems to reach back.
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