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Luminescence Explained |
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What is luminescence? |
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Luminescence occurs when an energy source kicks an election of an atom from the ground state to the excited state. The electron does not exist in the excited state for long, and when it goes back to the ground state the energy that was absorbed by the atom is released in the form of light.
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Metaphorical Description: |
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This situation can be expressed metaphorically. Imagine that a rock is picked up using one�s muscles. The elevated rock is now in a position that has greater energy than it would if it was on the ground. Next, imagine that the rock is dropped back to the ground. �THUD!� The energy that the rock had absorbed is now released in the form of sound. This is exactly the same as the concept of luminescence, except that the rock is the electron of an atom, the muscles are an outside energy source, and the sound that was created is a photon of light. |
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Difference from Incandescent Light: |
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It is important not to confuse luminescence with incandescent light. The difference is that luminescence is known as �cool light�, unlike incandescence which most commonly occurs at higher temperatures. For example, the light that is given off from the combustion of a match can be considered as incandescent light. |
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