how does the fluorescent light bulb work

Many other common forms of lighting are also made from fluorescents. With incandescents, the energy is turned into heat.įluorescent lights come in various types and shapes, including compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and also in long tubes that frequently hang from ceiling fixtures. One of the main reasons fluorescents are more efficient than incandescents is because energy is mostly converted into light.However, when they collide with the phosphor powder coating inside a bulb or tube, it produces visible white light. These ultraviolet (UV) wavelength photons can’t be seen by the human eye.When the electrons return to their original energy level, they release light photons.As some of the electrons collide with the gaseous mercury atoms, the atoms are excited into a higher energy state.The energy created causes some of the mercury to transform from a liquid into a gas state.This voltage causes electrons to flow down the length of the tube.When you turn on a fluorescent light, voltage is induced and a current flows through the circuit to the electrodes.

(See diagram.) These electrodes are wired to an electrical circuit, which is powered by connecting it to an alternating current, or AC, supply. Inside the tube is also a coating of phosphor powder (a chemical compound that emits light when exposed to light of a different wavelength), as well as two electrodes-one at each end of the tube. Inside is a small amount of mercury, along with an inert or inactive gas, which is typically argon. Because they run cooler and have an operating life ten to twenty times longer than standard incandescents, fluorescent lights are also increasingly found in residences-especially in heavy-use areas such as kitchens, garages, and basements.įluorescent lights feature a glass tube sealed at low pressure. Popular in offices, schools, warehouses, and other industrial settings, fluorescents are efficient and reliable light sources.

How does the fluorescent light bulb work