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?
• A. Chemical energy cracks the inner tube, which starts a reaction that transforms thermal energy into light energy.
B. 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
D. energy.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

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

Here's the reasoning:

1. Mechanical Energy: When you bend the glow stick, you apply mechanical energy to it. This bending action causes the inner tube to crack.

2. Chemical Energy: Once the inner tube cracks, the two reactive substances mix, initiating a chemical reaction. The energy stored in these chemical bonds is released during the reaction.

3. Light Energy: The chemical reaction produces light, transforming chemical energy into light energy.

Thus, the sequence involves mechanical energy from bending the stick, breaking the inner tube (initiating the reaction), and finally converting chemical energy into light energy.