Sources of Artificial Light An incandescent light bulb (old type) creates light from a

material due to the high temperature of the material called tungsten.

• The electrical foot contact is connected to a power source. This is made of metal so

it can conduct electricity.• The insulation makes sure that the power stays inside the bulb and doesn't seep out.• The inert gas, along with the support wires, actually make the light in the bulb once it's powered up.

More Sources of Artificial Light

Fluorescent light bulbs (new type) create light by passing electric current through a gas filled tube to cause the phosphorescent coating to gain energy, which is releases to emit visible energy (light).

How the fluorescent tube works...

• 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.

Recycling flourescent lamps:http://home.howstuffworks.com/fluorescent-lamp.htm

LuminescenceThis is the emission of light by a material or object

that has not been heated. (i.e. Fluorescence). Other examples of luminescence include:

• Phosphorescence

• Chemiluminescence

• Bioluminescence

PhosphorescenceThis is a specific type of photoluminescence related

to fluorescence. Unlike fluorescence, a phosphorescent material does not immediately re-emit the radiation. Phosphorescent materials absorb energy in the light and emit it back in the dark (glow in the dark watch).

ChemiluminescenceThe emission of light with limited emission of heat

(luminescence) as a result of a chemical reaction. There is a slight rise in temperature (exothermic reaction). An example is a glow-stick.

• Although the light-producing reaction is not caused by heat and may not produce heat, the rate at

which it occurs is affected by temperature. If you place a lightstick in a cold environment (like a freezer), then the chemical reaction will slow down. Less light will be released while the lightstick is cold, but the stick will last much longer. On the other hand, if you immerse a lightstick in hot water, the chemical reaction will speed up. The stick will glow much more brightly, but will wear out faster too.

BioluminescenceThis is the production and emission of light by a

living organism. It is a naturally occurring form of chemiluminescence where energy is released by a chemical reaction in the form of light emission.

i.e. A firefly, jellyfish, eel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icKB9EfURhQ

Electromagnetic Spectrum• You actually know more about it than you may think! The

electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is just a name that scientists give a bunch of types of radiation when they want to talk about them as a group. Radiation is energy that travels and spreads out as it goes-- visible light that comes from a lamp in your house and radio waves that come from a radio station are two types of electromagnetic radiation. Other examples of EM radiation are microwaves, infrared and ultraviolet light, X-rays and gamma-rays. Hotter, more energetic objects and events create higher energy radiation than cool objects. Only extremely hot objects or particles moving at very high velocities can create high-energy radiation like X-rays and gamma-rays. Here are the different types of radiation in the EM spectrum, in order from lowest energy to highest:

Radio Waves

• Radio: Yes, this is the same kind of energy that radio stations emit into the air for your boom box to capture and turn into your favorite Mozart, Madonna, or Justin Timberlake tunes. But radio waves are also emitted by other things ... such as stars and gases in space. You may not be able to dance to what these objects emit, but you can use it to learn what they are made of.

Microwaves

• Microwaves: They will cook your popcorn in just a few minutes! Microwaves in space are used by astronomers to learn about the structure of nearby galaxies, and our own Milky Way!

Intrared Radiation

• Infrared: Our skin emits infrared light, which is why we can be seen in the dark by someone using night vision goggles. In space, IR light maps the dust between stars. Visible: Yes, this is the part that our eyes see. Visible radiation is emitted by everything from fireflies to light bulbs to stars ... also by fast-moving particles hitting other particles.

UV Light

• Ultraviolet: We know that the Sun is a source of ultraviolet (or UV) radiation, because it is the UV rays that cause our skin to burn! Stars and other "hot" objects in space emit UV radiation.

X-Rays

• X-rays: Your doctor uses them to look at your bones and your dentist to look at your teeth. Hot gases in the Universe also emit X-rays .

Gamma-Rays

• Gamma-rays: Radioactive materials (some natural and others made by man in things like nuclear power plants) can emit gamma-rays. Big particle accelerators that scientists use to help them understand what matter is made of can sometimes generate gamma-rays. But the biggest gamma-ray generator of all is the Universe! It makes gamma radiation in all kinds of ways.

Electromagnetic Spectrum