| MadSci Network: Physics |
A TV screen uses the same technology as a computer monitor; the technical term is a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube). Inside the monitor box or TV console is a large vacuum tube with three electron guns (or one in the case of monochrome sets) at one end. The screen is at the other end and is coated with a grid of phosphorescent dots. When the electrons hit the dots, they glow. That glow must last until the gun sweeps to that point on the screen again, so it will last after then gun is turned off. The following is a response to a similar question and provides much more technical detail about the glow of the phosphor dots. http://flax.ims.uconn.edu/~jon/REPAIR/F_tv_repairf.html#TVREPAIRF_007 These are general explanations of how a CRT is constructed. http://whatis.com/crt.htm http://www.pctechguide.com/06crtmon.htm Cheers, judith Judith E. Bush jbush@fi.edu The Franklin Institute Science Museum New Media Specialist 222 N. 20th Street 1 (215) 448-1236 Philadelphia, PA 19103-1194 USA AOL IM judielaine
Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Physics.