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
Answered by Michael W. Physics tutor

33020 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Particle A (60kg) moves right at 50m/s. It collides with particle B (250kg) moving left at 10m/s. If after the collision particle A moves left at 20m/s, calculate the final velocity of particle B


A hot air balloon is travelling at a speed of 5.0m/s at an angle of 60.0 degrees up from the horizontal. Find the vertical and horizontal components.


A geostationary satellite is orbiting Earth, a) What is meant by a geostationary orbit? b) Calculate the height at which the satellite orbits above the surface of the Earth. The radius of the Earth is 6400km and its mass is 6x10^24 kg.


How can I find out the Young's modulus of a material?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning