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Glow
Discharge demonstrates electrical effects in a low pressure
gas. The visitor can vary the voltage and air pressure
in a large cylindrical tube. If gas is leaked into the
tube up to atmospheric (or almost atmospheric) pressure,
all glowing ceases. As the vacuum pump reduces the pressure
in the tube, it begins to glow pinkish-orange. As the
pressure further decreases, the glow breaks up into
light and dark spaces (Crookes dark spaces). After
this phenomenon, the orange glow disappears completely
leaving behind a blue violet glow which slowly gets
dimmer until the tube is once again dark, except this
time at a low pressure. A magnet hangs from the exhibit
which allows the visitor to demonstrate that moving
charges can be deflected by a magnetic field. Meters
are provided which give an indication of the current
flowing in the tube as well as the gas pressure.
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