Sources of Light

Incandescence
• Light emitted when a material is being
heated.
• An incandescence light bulb has a tiny
tungsten wire that gets very hot and glows
brightly when electric current passes
through it.
 Incandescence
• Electrical energy generates the heat that
excites the atoms
• Only 5% of the electrical energy used in an
incandescent bulb becomes light. (the
remaining 95% is lost as heat = inefficient)
Example:
incandescent light
bulb
 Electric Discharge
Light caused by passing an
electric current through
a gas
• Neon glows red
• Helium glows gold
• Argon a pale violet-blue
Examples: Street/store
signs and lightning bolts
 Fluorescence
• Light produced when an object absorbs
Ultraviolet light and immediately releases the
energy as visible light.
• Fluorescent dyes commonly added to
detergents.
 Fluorescence

• Fluorescent light bulbs are 20% efficient

and last longer than incandescent bulbs
but must be disposed of in the hazardous
waste because they contain mercury.
 Fluorescent Lights
• Uses both electric
discharge and
fluorescence
• Electric current passed
through mercury gas
inside tube
• Mercury emits UV light
that strikes the
fluorescent coating
• Fluorescent coating re-
emits visible light
Examples:
• used in classroom lights
• compact fluorescent
lights (CFL)
• highlighters
• some detergents
• Passports, legal
documents, paper
currencies
• Short Video
Fluorescence
 Phosphorescence
• Emission of light from a
material during and AFTER
exposure to an energy source.

• A light that is emitted while

the source is exposed to
ultraviolet light, and continues
to emit light after the
electromagnetic radiation has
been removed.
 Phosphorescence
• Materials glow long
after they have
absorbed ultraviolet
light.

• Examples: glow in
the dark toys
Chemiluminescence
• Light produced from a
chemical reaction
without an increase in
temperature.

• Examples: glow sticks

 Bioluminescence
• A form of
chemiluminescence
that occurs in living
organisms.
• Chemical reactions
in living cells
produce light.
 Bioluminescence
• Little or no heat is
produced.

• Example: firefly,
jellyfish, krill, deep-
sea star, black
dragonfish
• Nat Geo Video
 Triboluminescence
• production of light
from friction as a
result of scratching,
crushing, or rubbing
certain crystals.
• no applications at
this time.
• Lifesavers Video
 The Light-Emitting Diode (LED)
• electronic device that allows an electric
current to flow in only one direction.
• uses semiconductors - a material, such as
silicon, that allows an electric current to flow
in only one direction.
• no filament.
• does not produce a lot of heat.
• energy efficient.
• Video to explain
 The Light-Emitting Diode (LED)
Examples:
holiday lights,
illuminated signs,
and street lights
 Laser – A Special Type of Light
• Lasers have very
special properties.
• DID YOU KNOW?
– LASER = Light
Amplified by
Stimulated Emission
of Radiation
 Laser – A Special Type of Light

• A laser consists of
electromagnetic
waves of exactly the
same energy level,
traveling in unison in
exactly the same
direction.
 Laser – A Special Type of Light
• Laser light is:
– Very pure in colour
– Intense
– Concentrated in one
narrow beam
– Can travel great
distances without
spreading out.
 Laser – A Special Type of Light
• Applications of lasers:
– Burn holes in metals
– Surveyor to measure large distances
– Surgery
 Homework
• p 476#2-6,10,11 (for #11 don’t write report,
just compare LEDs to CFLs)
• Wint-O-Green Activity