How do neon bulbs work?

Answer 1

An incandescent light bulb has a coil of tungsten wire (called the filament) suspended in an evacuated (of air) glass bulb. Electricity is passed across the filament which, because of its resistance glows white hot, producing the light. The filament does not melt or burn away because the melting point of tungsten is high and there is not air in the glass bulb for the hot tungsten to react with.

Answer 2

Neon bulbs work by ionizing the noble gas called neon. When you apply energy to an atom, this increases the potential energy of the atom by moving the electrons to higher energy orbits. With certain chemical elements, when the electron return to their original orbits, energy is released in the form of light. In the case of neon, the electrified gas gives off an orange glow. Other electrified gases will glow other colors.

Fluorescent tubes and CFL bulbs work similarly, except that Mercury is the element that is ionized. Ionized mercury vapor actually gives off ultraviolet light, so the phosphor coating on the inside of the tube converts the UV light to more visible light.

This principle also works with fireworks, except they get their colors from heated or burning solids. If it has copper in it, for instance, you would get green colors.

Answer 3

Neon bulbs contain neon gas that is sealed inside a glass tube with electrodes at each end. When a high voltage is applied across the electrodes, the gas ionizes and emits a colored glow. This glow is what makes neon bulbs illuminate.