Fluorescent tubes are used for lighting in many different settings. They are most common in places such as schools, offices, factories and shops where large spaces need to be lit effectively.
Easily recognisable, Fluorescent tubes are generally between 3-8 ft long in most applications and have a diameter of around 3-4cm. Where they appear, they are found in large numbers. At work/college/school now? Look up. Fluorescent tubes.
The initial cost of Fluorescent lamp tubes is higher than that of incandescent lamps but this initial cost is offset with the lower energy consumption and longer life of the tubes.
Fluorescent tubes work differently than incandescent lights. Fluorescent tubes work by using electricity to excite mercury vapour which creates short-wave ultraviolet light. This in turn causes a phosphor to fluoresce creating visible light. On the other hand, incandescent lights work by passing electricity through a thin filament, which heats the wire, causing it to glow and produce light. The glass bulb prevents oxygen from reaching the hot filament, causing it to oxidise.
Other than their life span (which is upto 20 times longer than that of an incandescent light) and lower energy consumption, Fluorescent tubes emit a more diffuse light than incandescent lights which distributes light more evenly without point source of glare. Fluorescent tubes also give off up to 75% less heat than an equivalent incandescent installation.
However, despite all the positives, there can be a health risk posed by Fluorescent tubes and they must be handled and disposed of correctly to minimise these risks. When a Fluorescent tube is broken, a tiny amount of mercury is released into the air. Larger amounts of mercury can cause tremors, emotional changes, headaches, and changes in nerve responses. While not worth worrying about too much, it is worth noting since we all like nothing better than breaking expired fluorescent tubes on the back of our friends’ legs when they aren’t looking.
When a Fluorescent Bulb is broken, the glass shatters into tiny fragments which can be a hazard and must be disposed of correctly to avoid glass splinters. Glass splinters are painful and can cause infection if left untreated.
Aside from the usual lighting applications, types of Fluorescent tubes have been created for specific use in tanning beds. These tubes have a different blend of phosphors than the ones used in lighting situation, typically containing between 3 and 5 more phosphors. These lamps give off an amount of UVA and UVB light provoking a tanning reaction on human skin.
Have you ever been to an amusement park? Did you go in the Ghost house and notice your white laces were glowing and there was a funny stain on your friend’s jeans? This is down to another type of Fluorescent tube, the ‘Black Light’. Black lights work the same as standard fluorescent tubes although they are coated with a special phosphor which converts short wave UV light to Long wave UV rather than light which is visible to the human eye. Beware though, insects are drawn to UV light so I wouldn’t have one in your bedroom unless you like spiders.