202 Summary, Chapter Twenty Five Light Sources Incandescent or thermoluminescent bodies emit light by virtue of their high temperature. Examples are the sun, and the regular household lamp bulb. Chemiluminescence is the emission of light as a result of a chemical reaction.
Bioluminescence is chemiluminescence associated with a living organism such as in the firefly.
Electroluminescence is the emission of light from a gas caused by a high voltage discharge or in a solid when subjected to an electrical voltage. Triboluminescence is the emission of light when two bodies are struck or rubbed together. Flourescence is the emission of visible light from a substance when irradiated with ultravioloet light as in the common household tubular fluorescent lamps. Phosphorescence is fluorescence that persists for a noticable length of time after irradiation has ceased as in the television or computer monitor screen. Spectra A continuous spectrum of light results when white light passes through a prism.