Fluorescent Lights

Understand how the work begins fluorescent light tubes with a basic understanding of how light is produced. The basic unit of light is the photon of light, which is released by an atom when its electrons become energized. As you know, electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit around the positively charged nucleus of an atom. The electrons have different energy levels, and move when the energy is gained or lost by the atom. When heat is energy to an atom, electrons quickly move to another location, and almost immediately return to their original positions. As the return jump occurs, the extra energy can be released as a photon of light, creating light.

We've all heard that fluorescent bulbs are more efficient than incandescent, but why? Fluorescent bulbs use a process more energy efficient to produce the light we see. The main difference between the incandescent lighting and fluorescent lamps is now to stimulate the atoms. Incandescent bulbs excite the atoms through the introduction of heat, which causes excessive thermal energy used. Fluorescent bulbs, on the other hand, the use of a chemical reaction to excite the atoms of energy without overheating the same. The two types of bulbs create ultraviolet light, which is not visible to humans. But that fluorescent bulbs use a substance that converts ultraviolet light into visible light, resulting in less wasted energy.

A fluorescent lamp is usually a glass tube-shaped shell with an electrode at each end for connecting to the electrical source. lines phosphor powder inside the tube, and a small amount of mercury and an inert gas are contained in this document. When the current flows to and between the electrodes, the electrons travel the length of the tube, which creates energy that converts a portion of the mercury in the gaseous state. As some of the atoms and electrons moving in contact with mercury atoms, the electrons are excited to go to a new orbit, and emit photons of light returning to the original orbital.

However, the light created by this chemical reaction is usually in the ultraviolet range, which is new is not understood by the human eye. The phosphor powder lining of the fluorescent lamp serves the important purpose of converting light to visible light. When light photons created from the collision with a chemical reaction of phosphorus, the energy excites electrons from phosphorus, thereby emitting visible light. Phosphors are the white light because we typically fluorescent lamps.

The popularity of fluorescent lighting is growing, consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious and seek solutions to save energy. Once prevalent mainly in the large office buildings and schools, the fluorescent bulb is now manufactured with a standard bulb base which makes it compatible with most common fixtures at home.

About the author: John Billington is the president and CEO of Five Rivers Inc., an online provider of leading home lighting , lighting, bathrooms and decoration. For more information, please visit www.fiverivers.com.