The mercury atoms in a fluorescent tube are excited and then emit photons in the ultraviolet region of the elecrtomagnetic spectrum. Explain how the mercury atoms become excited.

The mercury atom is excited one of its electrons goes from an upper electron shell to a lower electron shell thanks to some energy that it recives from the outside. When an atom is excited it is instable so the electron will go back to its initial shell. This will cause a loss of enregy in the form of a photon

MB
Answered by Marie B. Physics tutor

5238 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Draw the electric field lines produced by a negative point charge and calculate the electric field strength at a distance of 50mm from a point charge of size -30nC.


What is escape velocity?


Given that z = 6 is a root of the cubic equation z^3 − 10z^2 + 37z + p = 0, find the value of p and the other roots.


A cart starts at rest and moves freely down a ramp without friction or air resistance and descends 8 meters vertically, what is its speed at the bottom?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning