Plasma actuator

Okay, so imagine you have a balloon that you want to make move forward without touching it. You can do this by blowing air over it using a straw. This is kind of how a plasma actuator works but instead of air, it uses plasma to make things move.

Plasma is a special state of matter that is made up of charged particles like electrons and ions. When you use electricity to create a plasma, it can create an electric field that can move air molecules around it. This movement of air molecules can be controlled to create a jet of air that can be used to manipulate objects.

So, if you put this plasma jet on a wing or a surface, you can create a force that can help it move in a certain direction. This is really useful for things like airplanes, where you can use a plasma actuator to adjust the air flow around the wings to make the plane fly more efficiently.

Overall, a plasma actuator is a device that uses plasma to create a controlled jet of air that can be used to manipulate objects and improve their performance.