Small tube, bright light

1. Electrode emits a current of electrons.

2. If electrons hit mercury atoms, energy in (the?) form of ultraviolet rays is emitted (set free, released).

3. The UV rays hat a fluorescent layer in the gas tube and emit (generate, create) light.

The energy saving lamp (bulb) produces (creates) UV radiation creating visible light when hitting on a coating.

Smart (shrewd, cunning, clever) energy saving lamp

What (where) is the difference between a normal (an ordinary) incandescent lamp and an energy saving lamp?

The more and more widespread used (increasingly in use) energy saving lamps are in principle (basically) small fluorescent tubes (Basically, the increasingly popular ... are nothing more/less than ...). They are constructed (devised, conceived, designed, built, fabricated) as a glass tube with two electrodes. The tube is filled with mercury vapo[u]rs (fumes, steam).

(When supplied/fed with) Under exposure of electrical energy a current (stream) of electrons runs between the two electrodes. The electrons hit upon the atoms of the mercury vapo[u]rs (in the course of, thus, and as a result) setting free (releasing) ultraviolet radiation that can't be perceived by (is not visible to, can't be perceived by) the human eye. If, (however) on the other hand (in contrary), it hits upon the (glass tube's) fluorescent coating of the glass tube, it turns into (becomes, will be transformed, will be converted into) visible light.

Energy saving lamps produce (emit) more light (energy) than normal incandescent lamps. So (thus, for example, e.g.) an 11 Watt energy saving lamp is equivalent (corresponds to, equals) to a 60 Watt incandescent lamp; besides (moreover, and additionally) it lasts about 8 times as long. Permanently (regularly, permanently, continually, continuously) a great amount of (a lot of, a large amount of, much) energy must be fed (supplied, carried, lead) to the incandescent lamp so that (in order to keep) the filament keeps (remains) warm and luminous (bright, shiny) (to keep the ...).

The energy saving lamp in the contrary (in contrast) just (only) requires (needs) low (minor, small, [ab]wertend: little) power supply once the light emitting (creating, producing) process has been (gotten) started (got going, has begun). This process would even get out of control and cause the tube to (make the tube) burn out (with)in seconds unless a (if it were not for ...) current limiting component restrained (controlled, tamed) the electrons.

Modern energy saving lamps with electronic ignition can -- in contrary (contrast) to the conventional (customary, traditional) fluorescent tubes -- be switched (turned) on and off many times. However (though, but, indeed, certainly), between each switching (action, activity) two to three minutes should elapse (pass).