So when a Wint-O-Green Life Saver is crushed between your teeth, the methyl salicylate molecules absorb the ultraviolet, shorter wavelength light produced by the excited nitrogen, and re-emit it as light of the visible spectrum, specifically as blue light - thus the blue sparks that jump out of your mouth when you crunch on a Wint-O-Green Life Saver. Ultraviolet light has a shorter wavelength than visible light. Methyl salicylate, or oil of wintergreen, is fluorescent, meaning it absorbs light of a shorter wavelength and then emits it as light of a longer wavelength. This brighter light is produced by the wintergreen flavoring. This shot is of the lifesaver being crushed across its diameter. This is why all hard, sugary candies will produce a faint glow when cracked.īut when you bite into a Wint-O-Green Life Saver, a much greater amount of visible light can be seen. The dark wedge is the tip of the needle nose pliers used to crush the wintogreen lifesaver. In this excited state, and in order to get rid of the excess energy, these nitrogen molecules emit light - mostly ultraviolet (nonvisible) light, but they do emit a small amount of visible light as well. When they collide, the electrons impart energy to the nitrogen molecules, causing them to vibrate. These free electrons bump into nitrogen molecules in the air. Triboluminescence occurs when molecules, in this case crystalline sugars, are crushed, forcing some electrons out of their atomic fields. When you rip a piece of tape off the roll, it will produce a slight glow for the same reason. Triboluminescence is the emission of light resulting from something being smashed or torn. Repeat the above step for all the other candies. Take note of the candy you have consumed and the amount of sparks it produced. Take your first candy and crush it with your teeth. Stand in front of a mirror and turn off all the lights. This effect is called triboluminescence, which is similar to the electrical charge build-up that produces lightning, only much less grand. Mirror Dark Area Experimental Procedure: Gather all the candy you have and keep them at reach. "Actually, all hard sugar-based candies emit some degree of light when you bite them, but most of the time, that light is very faint. Why do Wint-O-Green Life Savers spark in the dark?
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