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Fluorescent Rocks
Get ready to hear expressions of ooohs & ahhhs when these amazing rocks change color. Certain unique and scarce minerals have the ability to absorb ultraviolet light and literally change color. Some might call it "glow-in-the-dark" but the scientific term for this phenomenon is fluorescence. The kit includes a long UV light and four ordinary-looking rocks that reveal cool fluorescent colors under the black light. The kit comes with instructions that explain ultraviolet and visible light, some everyday uses of fluorescence and more. Recommended for children ages 8 and up.
How does it work?
Scientifically speaking, the electrons in the rocks absorb this energy. This causes the electrons within the mineral to 'jump shells' and release energy. The human eye can see this released energy in brilliant colors of visible light.
The experiment described on this page is copied with the permission of the Steve Spangler website. A full description of the experiment is available plus purchase options at: http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/category/electricity-energy which has literally dozens of Electricity and Energy based experiments. There are also may other categories of experiments such as Anatomy, Chemistry, Magnetism and Solar Energy just to name a few.