Black Light Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Hope Diamond

Fluorescence and phosphoresence are two different effects, but both are associated with black lights. In the case of fluorescence, the effect can be seen instantly, and colour changes are noted while the black light is being shone. Phosphoresence occurs when there is a delay in the effect.

In this case the diamond absorbs some of the energy from the black light and then releases this energy in the form of a deep red glow after exposure.

Answer: Both of these

Although bees do have colour vision, their perception of colour differs greatly from human perception. Unlike humans, bees have the ability to 'see' ultraviolet light in natural circumstances. Many images of the differences between bee vision and human vision in relation to the appearance of flowers can be found online.
Only one of the receptor cells in the eye of a bee is put to particular use in navigation and it is likely that it is a combination of this and other elements of bee biology which allow bees to travel great distances from the hive and to fly in a swarm without crashing.

Answer: Blue

Petroleum jelly will glow under a black light due to the presence of phosphors. Ultraviolet light emits a form of radiation which these phosphors absorb and then emit as visible light. In the case of petroleum jelly, the visible light that is reflected is blue.

Answer: Duran Duran

Duran Duran were originally formed in 1978 in Birmingham, England. "A View to a Kill" was the band's thirteenth single and was one of the most successful singles associated with the "James Bond" movie series. Although the song is played over the opening sequence of the movie, the band also put together a video for the song in which the lead singer makes a play on a famous line from the movie, introducing himself as "Le Bon, Simon Le Bon".

Answer: Quinine

Quinine is a natural substance which is derived from the bark of the Cinchona or Quina tree. The bark of the tree is also known as Jesuit's bark, as Jesuit priests working in South America were among the first to introduce the medicinal properties of the bark to Europe. Quinine is only present in very small amounts in tonic water but its presence is enough to cause it to fluoresce under black-light.

Answer: Emperor Scorpion

The emperor scorpion will glow a blue-green colour when exposed to ultraviolet light. One reason that has been suggested for why scorpions fluoresce under UV light is that it allows them to determine whether conditions are safe for them to hunt at night.

Although the scorpions cannot 'see' ultraviolet light, they can see light in the green spectrum. If they can see this green glow it may help to determine whether it is too 'bright' to safely forage.

Answer: Red

Chlorophyll is vital to plants for its use in photosynthesis, the conversion of light to energy used by the plants. Chlorophyll does not absorb green light well and due to the amount of chlorophyll in plant structures this is the colour which we see.

Answer: Wood's lamp

Robert Williams Wood originally created the glass used in a Wood's lamp to aid communications during the first World War. The composition of this glass is achieved by adding different elements to the glass in the manufacturing process. The addition of these elements is expensive and leaves the glass more susceptible to breakages from a variety of sources. Contemporary use has moved away from the manufacture of complete light bulbs made of this glass towards a simple piece of glass which can be placed over a light source to create the same effect as a bulb.

Answer: Prague

Black light theatre makes use of black backdrops and staging and flourescent costumes and set decorations to produce effects that would be otherwise difficult to achieve in conventional live theatre. By using actors also dressed in black, single body parts can be highlighted or objects can appear to float across the stage.

Answer: To distinguish between male and female

Butterflies, similar to some other insects, have a range of vision which includes the ultraviolet spectrum of light. To the human eye, the male and female of a species may appear identical, however to the butterfly, intricate patterns on the wings of other butterflies are visible to their ultraviolet vision.