Fluorescent Lights: A Brief Overview

For centuries rocks and stones have been found to emit a radiant glow. Human race had not discovered the real causes triggering the appearance of these mysterious lights for ages. It was only in the middle of the nineteenth Century that a Scientist from the University of Cambridge came up with real and practical deductions explaining the meaning of these lights. The professor, Sir George Stokes, further went on to name these lights after the mineral fluorite. A decade later, another innovation on Fluorescent Lights from the stable of a German Scientist actually brought them to the forefront and fluorescents have, over the years, emerged as a subject of extensive study. The early version of the tube emanating fluorescent lighting was the crooks’ tube. However, it managed to earn very little reputation on account of being less illuminative. Fluorescent lighting was first brought into commercial arena by the American electrical giant GE electrical.

Although less economical than the incandescent lights-a lighting system more popular among people, fluorescent lights are steadily climbing the popularity charts .One may ask why? After all, the fluorescents are difficult to fit as compared to its counterparts. Well the reasons are few but all crucial to the daily human need. Have a quick look of the vital reasons. The fluorescents are much pocket friendly being considerably cheaper than the incandescent lights .Apart from this, there are several other factors that have triggered this recent shift of interest from incandescent to fluorescent lighting.

Now the question is what goes into the making of fluorescent lights? This form of lighting is generally made up of a tube with both ends sealed containing small portions of easy to ionize Mercury inert Argon gas mixed in phosphor powder. Very little Mercury is used in the process of creating fluorescent lights .A wire connects the tube to the mains of alternating current. The tube contains very few electrodes and when current is passed between the two electrodes lights are turned on. This process has been named arcing. The current flowing through the gas gets the atoms excited, thereby ionizing them for emitting photons. The UV light frequency leads to the vibration of theses emitted photons. When the UV light touches phosphor powder, a bright light appears. This is a basic over view of the functioning of the fluorescent lighting system.

Fluorescent lights have featured in The United States Environment Protection agency’s list of hazardous wastes. So make sure that you have wrapped them in re-sealable bags properly before disposing. Do not forget to seal the bag tight. In case of physical damage of the lamp, sweep the area clear of broken pieces and throw them away timely as soon as possible. The merits offered by fluorescent lights have not only made them popular but people are now willing to accept a system of Lighting more energy friendly and economical than the one already in use. That dose of selective information on the history and workings of fluorescent lights is sure to have enlightened you!