What causes luminous watch dials to glow in the dark?

Subject: What causes luminous watch dials to glow in the dark?

Date: Sat Oct 31 01:59:02 1998
Posted by Frank Ermes
Grade level: nonaligned
School: n/a
City: Melbourne State/Province: Victoria
Country: Australia
Area of science: Physics
ID: 909820742.Ph

Message:


Is it via the emission of alpha particles that "tunnel" past the 
surrounding electron cloud? And if so, how can exposing these dials to 
ordinary light (i.e. photons) stimulate them to glow? Wouldn't the 
incoming photons be absorbed by the electron cloud?
Thanks.

Re: What causes luminous watch dials to glow in the dark?

Current Queue | Current Queue for Physics | Physics archives

Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Physics. MadSci Home