Have you noticed those thin flourescent strips along the aisle in the flight or cinemas halls to guide you to walk in the darkness? Flourescent materials absorb light and emit it back as glow. Now then, how about trying to mimic this aspect at home, along with your child? So get ready to create a fake neon sign at home by using highlighter, flexible tube, and UV light. Check out our glowing chemistry my neon sign activity.
Parental Involvement: High
Duration: 25 minutes
Skills Acquired: Sensory, Fine Motor, Creativity
Materials
- Highlighter
- Flexible tube
- UV light
- Cardboard
- Sketch Pen
- Tape
- Cutter
- A pair of scissors
- Clay
- Candle
- Glass of water
Instructions for Glowing Chemistry My Neon Sign Activity
- Take out the ink pack out of the flourescent highlighter. Adult facilitator could help.
- Place the pack in a glass and pour some water. The fake neon flourescent solution is ready.
- In one end of a flexible tube, seal it properly using clay and tape. Liquid you pour in shouldn’t flow out.
- Pour the fake neon solution into the tube.
- Seal the other end using clay and some candle wax.
- On the cardboard, doodle a design/write a word.
- Stick the tube along the doodle.
Your fake neon sign is ready!
Now at night, turn off the light and switch on the UV light. What do you see?
Science Behind It
The sign glows in the dark, doesn’t it? Well, this is due to the phenomenon called fluorescence. Fluorescent materials absorb light with shorter wavelength like the ultraviolet (UV) light and re-emit in a quicker manner.
Activity done by Vishwajeet