![]() It is only when there is a fluorescent substance around, which can absorb the UV light and reemit it as visible light, that we see a tiny light flash. Note that many animals, like insects and birds, would observe this UV light flash because their eyes are sensitive to UV light-but human eyes are not. These miniature releases excite the air around it, which then typically releases ultraviolet (UV) light, a type of light humans cannot see. Although releases occur often, we hardly ever see a light flash. You might have felt or seen a discharge when touching a metal doorknob after walking across a carpeted floor. Whenever there is static electricity, a release might happen. Crushing particular crystalline structures like hard sugar or salt also gives rise to static electricity. In both examples, rubbing created static electricity. Maybe you remember your hair standing up after brushing it, or clothes clinging together when they come out of the dryer. ![]() Miniature buildups of static electricity occur often. That glowing white light is the lightning you see. Within clouds or between the clouds and Earth, the discharge is huge it heats the air to the extent that it glows with white light. This rubbing gives rise to static electricity, and sometimes the electricity can jump across an air gap. It starts when icy raindrops rub against the air. Lightning is a massive release of static electricity. Therefore, there was no UV flash to see when crushing the sugar free Wint O Green mints. ![]() A fluorescent substance-a substance that absorbs UV light and release it again as light humans can see-can make the light flash visible, and that is exactly what the artificial flavoring substance in the Wint O Green mint does.Īlthough lots of hard crystalline structures emit UV light when crushed, the crystals in the sugar substitute do not. The discharge is usually accompanied by ultraviolet (UV) light, which is a type of light humans cannot see. You need hard crystalline sugar as well as the artificial flavoring substance in the Wint O Green type to create the flash.Ĭrushing hard crystalline sugar creates static electricity, which can lead to a mini discharge-a kind of miniature lightning. What Happened?ĭid you see a light flash when crushing the sugar-containing Life Savers Wint O Green mints, but not when crushing the other types of Life Savers mints? This is expected. Clean up any candy fragments in your work area. Wash any sticky parts of the pliers with soapy water and then dry thoroughly. ![]()
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