How is a fluorescent light made?

Answer 1

A fluorescent bulb uses a completely different method to produce light. There are electrodes at both ends of a fluorescent tube, and a gas containing argon and Mercury vapor is inside the tube. A stream of electrons flows through the gas from one electrode to the other (in a manner similar to the stream of electrons in a cathode ray tube). These electrons bump into the mercury atoms and excite them. As the mercury atoms move from the excited state back to the unexcited state, they give off ultraviolet photons. These photons hit the phosphor coating the inside of the fluorescent tube, and this phosphor creates visible light. It sounds complicated, so lets go through it again in slow motion:

• There is a stream of electrons flowing between the electrodes at both ends of the fluorescent bulb.
• The electrons interact with mercury vapor atoms floating inside the bulb.
• The mercury atoms become excited, and when they return to an unexcited state they release photons of light in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum.
• These ultraviolet photons collide with the phosphor coating the inside of the bulb, and the phosphor creates visible light.

The phosphor fluoresces to produce light.

A fluorescent bulb produces less heat, so it is much more efficient. A fluorescent bulb can produce between 50 and 100 lumens per watt. This makes fluorescent bulbs four to six times more efficient than incandescent bulbs. That's why you can buy a 15-watt fluorescent bulb that produces the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb.

Answer 2

A fluorescent light bulb is filled with argon gas and mercury vapor. Electricity is passed between two naked contact points within the tube. This super heats the mercury vapour turning it into a plasma. this in turn gives off invisible UV light. The glass of the bulb is coated with a phosphor which fluoresces in the presence of UV light. This in turn produces visible light.

Answer 3

The bulb is coated inside with a florescent mixture. A heater element heats mercury and a high voltage lights it up. It radiates ultraviolet light which is converted by the coating to "white" light.

Answer 4

For a video that explains how a fluorescent light is made, click on the Related Link.