In empty space there would be no forces on the mercury other than the internal forces between mercury atoms.

The mercury atoms in the fluorescent tube must be ionized before the arc can "strike" within the tube.

The electrons, now in a lower energy state, will jump back into place onto the first mercury atom they find with an electron missing.

The spark makes the mercury atoms release ultraviolet light.

In order to produce ultraviolet light, electrons flow through the fluorescent lamp and collide with mercury atoms.

The mercury atoms are provided by the amalgam (a solid form of mercury).

The plasma of excited mercury atoms inside the lamp emits ultraviolet light directly.

An electric discharge in the tube causes the mercury atoms to emit ultraviolet light.

These electrons bump into the mercury atoms and excite them.

As the mercury atoms move from the excited state back to the unexcited state, they give off ultraviolet photons.

In empty space there would be no forces on the mercury other than the internal forces between mercury atoms.

The mercury atoms in the fluorescent tube must be ionized before the arc can "strike" within the tube.

The electrons, now in a lower energy state, will jump back into place onto the first mercury atom they find with an electron missing.

The spark makes the mercury atoms release ultraviolet light.

In order to produce ultraviolet light, electrons flow through the fluorescent lamp and collide with mercury atoms.

The mercury atoms are provided by the amalgam (a solid form of mercury).

The plasma of excited mercury atoms inside the lamp emits ultraviolet light directly.

An electric discharge in the tube causes the mercury atoms to emit ultraviolet light.

These electrons bump into the mercury atoms and excite them.

As the mercury atoms move from the excited state back to the unexcited state, they give off ultraviolet photons.