Microwave Plasma (with a Match)

I created plasma using just a microwave, some putty, a cup, and a lit match.

• Any microwave that has a rotating plate. (apparently these work best)
• Some putty. (I used "tickytac")
• 2 wooden matchsticks
• A glass cup or beaker

First the microwave. Any microwave will do, but, you will want it to be clean and dry. It doesn't have to be an old microwave, but it needs to function.

Put the putty in the center of the rotating plate thing. This is just to keep the matches upright.

Next light a match and hold it upside down to get the flame going better. Then stick it in the putty. Light and add another match next to it. I found two matches worked best, but feel free to experiment with more or less.

Put the glass or beaker over the lit matches and start the microwave. The glass has to be dried, otherwise it can shatter (this happened to me on one of my trail runs)

At first you may not notice anything, but within twenty seconds or so you should see some flashes. Suddenly, a bright cloud will appear in the bottom of the glass and jump to the top. Congratulations! You've made plasma! I would advise turning off your microwave within ten seconds of the plasma being at the top. This will just eliminate the probability that the glass will break. In this trail run I didn't dry the glass enough and I left it to long, so it broke. When removing the glass, be careful, because it is likely hot.