A Beginner's View of Our Electric Universe - New

If a hydrogen atom has its single electron and single proton separated, then one negative free electron and one
positive ion will be the result. Hydrogen will be very important to consider as we progress, so remember this
in particular. Additionally, molecules of gas and solid matter such as dust that have an overall positive or a
negative charge because of either an electron excess or deficiency, are also included here in the definition of
ions. Any atom or molecule needs only to have one single electron missing or in addition to be defined as such.
Be aware also that the process through which ions are formed is called ‘ionisation’.
The plasma state is found in gases, liquids and solids everywhere. It is therefore not wrong to consider that
with the exception of similar conditions on other planets like our own, absolutely everything outside our thin
‘electrically deceptive’ protective biosphere here on the surface of Earth, is plasma in one or other of its states.
This is why we say the universe is made up of 99.99% plasma.
Temperature and energy: Matter that is not being unduly influenced by external electrical or magnetic forces
may tend to have a natural ‘drift’ of electrons and charged molecules within it. This minor activity manifests as
a constant ‘balancing out’ interaction of ions that can be viewed as the natural ‘background exchange of energy’
that produces an overall electric neutrality for the matter in question. This particle motion is random and is
brought about by energy (temperature) in the environment. It is known as ‘Brownian Motion’. Think of it as the
natural level of energy that something has before its temperature is changed by an external influence. It is also
common to refer to the ‘temperature’ of matter as its ‘energy level’ or ‘energy content’.
As an example, consider where we have air in a sealed room and no special conditions in place. The molecules
of oxygen, nitrogen and other gases that make up the air will float about in a chaotic mix, occasionally bumping
into one another and perhaps exchanging the odd electron here and there. This low level of energetic motion
represents the ‘natural temperature’ of the air in that room. The energy involved is not very useful while it is at
normal room temperature. However, it would become useful if the temperature of the air were raised through
some means to a higher level, especially on a cold day. In that case, the molecules of air would be moving
around in a faster, more chaotic fashion so the energy they would be able to impart to other forms of matter
might be felt, for instance, by us as heat on our skin.
At the low end of the scale of temperature we have levels of coldness. If we could cool matter down enough so
that all sub-atomic motion is stopped, then that matter would be said to have no energy associated with it at all.
This, however, is an apparently impossible level to reach, for everything we are aware of must maintain just
the tiniest amount of energy for its structure to be preserved. This level of zero energy is theoretical and has a
temperature scale associated with it that starts at the ‘no energy level of zero’. This is known as the Kelvin scale
where zero degrees Kelvin equals no energy whatsoever, no movement of electrons, molecules, or anything.
Nothing can reach 0K, but science has come very close indeed. In terms of how the Kelvin scale relates to the
Celsius scale, 0˚C is the same as 273K, so this means that minus 273˚C is the same as 0K, or what is known as
‘absolute zero’. Note that temperatures quoted in Kelvin do not usually have the degree ˚ symbol included.
61 | Some basic theory that will help