Task4

The Hauksbee Challenge

Francis Hauksbee observed and investigated glowing gases in the 18th century - Long before we became familiar with neon lights!

Practical Investigation  

Your practical activity can only be carried out at school and you will need the help of your teacher.

Your task is to demonstrate that a fluorescent tube held near to a charged Van de Graff generator will start to glow in your hand.  

In the mean time you have a written research task. 

Research/written task.

  Fluorescent tubes work on a completely different principle to ordinary filament lamps.   

Produce a written report which answers some or all of these questions: 

1)       How do fluorescent lamps work? 

2)       How does an ordinary lamp work? 

3)       Is there any difference in the light these produce? 

4)       Which is the most efficient to use?  What does this mean? 

5)       Do fluorescent lamps and ordinary lamps produce a different type of shadow? 

   Presentation

Present your findings to the group.

You may wish to start by searching the web. These key words may be useful.

SPECTRA   SPECTRUM   PHYSICS   UMBRA   PENUMBRA

FLUORESCENT   EFFICIENT   LIGHT  

To search the web