A glow stick is a plastic tube that contains two separate liquids. When the liquids are mixed, they glow. The diagrams show the process that causes a glow stick to emit light.

Question

The inner and outer tube separate two reactive substances from each other.
When the outer tube is bent, the inner tube cracks, mixing the reactive substances.
The glow from the reaction fills the entire glow stick and light is emitted.
The glow stick stops glowing when the substances are finished reacting.
Based on the diagrams, what energy transformations occur when using a glow stick?

Chemical energy cracks the inner tube, which starts a reaction that transform thermal energy into light energy.
Thermal energy cracks the inner tube, which starts a reaction that transforms potential energy into light energy.
Mechanical energy cracks the inner tube, which starts a reaction that transforms chemical energy into light energy.
Potential energy cracks the inner tube, which starts a reaction that transforms mechanical energy into light energy

Answer 1

The correct energy transformation that occurs when using a glow stick is:

Mechanical energy cracks the inner tube, which starts a reaction that transforms chemical energy into light energy.

Here’s the breakdown of the process:

1. Mechanical Energy: Bending the outer tube applies mechanical energy, which causes the inner tube to crack.

2. Chemical Energy: Once the inner tube cracks, the two reactive substances mix, and their chemical potential energy is converted during the reaction.

3. Light Energy: This chemical reaction releases energy in the form of light, causing the glow stick to emit light.

Thus, the initial mechanical energy results in the mixing of chemicals and the subsequent transformation of chemical energy into light energy.