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

33142 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Explain, using appropriate laws of motion, why the air exerts a force on the engine in the forward direction.


What is the quark composition of a proton?


What is the minimum height of a hill, so a ball of mass m falling from it can go through a loop of radius R?


Explain the photo-electric effect and describe how the intensity of light effects rate of electron emission.


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