In a fluorescent tube, ultraviolet (UV) photons are produced by the gas inside the tube and then interact with the phosphor coating on the inner surface. Which of the following correctly describes the process that occurs within the atoms of the phosphor coating to produce visible light?
The atoms absorb a UV photon and emit photoelectrons via the photoelectric effect.
Electrons in the atoms absorb a UV photon, rising to a higher energy state, and then de-excite in a series of smaller energy transitions, emitting lower-energy photons of visible light.
The atoms are ionized by the incoming UV photons, and emit visible light as free electrons recombine directly to the ground state.
Electrons in the atoms absorb multiple visible light photons from the gas and then emit a single UV photon of higher energy.
