Fluorescent Lights How Do They Work?

[Mike Murphy]

My fiancee is a costume designer. Currently, she is designer outfits for
a "haunted house." She finds that under a black fluorescent light
certain colors glow, but not others. She asked me why. I wasn't sure,
but I figured that someone in this newsgroup does know. I'm also curious
as to the mechanics of fluorescent lighting. How is it different from
conventional lighting? I figure that the "reaction" of color must have
something to do with the spectrum, but I need an expert's explanation.

Please keep it simple, as I'm just a stupid English Professor.

Peace,

Murph

e-mail : umsm...@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu

Thanks in advance.

[Percy Funchess]

i'm not sure but, i'll venture a guess based on faulty memory.

i think the answer involves phosphours (sp?). A normal flourescent light
has the inside of the bulb coated with a special phosphour. the
flourescent light contains a gas(not sure about this) that emits a
certain wavelength light (not visisble) when electric current is run
through it. this wavelength light excites the special phosphour on the
inside of the bulb and causes it to emit white visible light.

black lights are flourescent lights without the special coating of
phosphour on the inside of the bulb. this way the ultraviolet(??) light
produced by the flourescent light can excite phosphours outside of the
bulb. different phospours will produce different colors.

you will also notice that most laundered clothes will glow under black
light. this is caused by phosphours included in most laundry detergents
as brightening agents. (this is how i originally found out how black
lights worked.)

hope this helps

--
Percy Funchess V V TTTTTT
Materials Engineer V V TT
Lockheed Martin V V TT
go hokies V TT

##my opinions and my opinions only##
(because no one else wants em)

[CHRISTOPHER M. MALINOWSKI]

If you put a flourescent light in a microwave (and turn the microwave on)
the light will light up. It does this because the electrons in the light
become excited or something. Just thought i'd add in my two cents, while
you were on the subject of flourescent.

Mal
"it really does work, i saw it on Mr. Wizard!"

--
"Those who forget history are doomed to repeat"