A glow stick is a plastic tube that contains two separate liquids. When the liquids are mixed, they glow. The diagrams show the process that causes a glow stick to emit light.
what energy transformations occur when using a glow stick?
The energy transformations that occur when using a glow stick are as follows:
1. Chemical Energy to Light Energy: The glow stick contains two separate liquids (typically hydrogen peroxide and a phenyl oxalate ester), which when combined, undergo a chemical reaction known as chemiluminescence. This chemical reaction releases energy in the form of light.
2. Potential Energy to Chemical Energy: Before activating the glow stick, the chemicals inside are in a state of potential energy. When the glow stick is bent or cracked, a glass ampoule inside breaks, allowing the two liquids to mix and resulting in the chemical reaction that produces light.
3. Mechanical Energy to Potential Energy: When a glow stick is bent or cracked, mechanical energy is applied to the plastic tube, causing it to deform and break the glass ampoule. This mechanical energy is transformed into potential energy, as the potential for the chemical reaction to occur is triggered.
4. Light Energy to Thermal Energy: While the primary transformation is from chemical energy to light energy, some of the energy released during the chemical reaction is converted into heat, resulting in a slight increase in temperature within the glow stick.
5. Radiant Energy to Electrical Energy: In some glow sticks, such as those with built-in LED lights, the light energy emitted from the chemical reaction can be converted into electrical energy through a photodiode or similar device. This electrical energy can then be used to power the LED, allowing for a more durable and longer-lasting glow.