Explain how fluorescent tubes work

Fluorescent tubes are filled with low pressure mercury, when an electric current is passed through, the electrons in mercury are excited and move to a high energy level, this high level state is unstable and so the electron moves back to its original state, but on doing so, it emits an electromagnetic wave with energy equivalent the difference in energy level. This is UV light and the electrons in the phosphor coating inside the fluorescent tube are excited, and releases visible light when the electrons return to its orginal energy state, which provides the glow in fluorescent lights.

MW

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Describe and explain the photoelectric effect in terms of photons interacting with the surface of a metal.


2 resistors of resistances 150 ohms and 5000 ohms respectively are in series with each other. They both are also in parallel with a 1000 ohm resistor. What is the total resistance?


What is the maximum frequency photon of one of the photons produced when a electron and positron annihilate each other?


What is the angular velocity of a car wheel which diameter is d = 15 mm if the car velocity is of 120 km/h?