Suppose a friend suggests that, for a first-rate operation, the gaseous neon atoms in a neon tube should be periodically replaced with fresh atoms because the energy of the atoms tends to be usedm up with continued excitation, producing dimmer and dimmer light. What do you say to this?

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The neon atoms don’t release any energy that is not given to them by the electric current in the tube and therefore don’t get “used up.” Any single atom may be excited and re-excited without limit. If the light is, in fact, becoming dimmer and dimmer, it is probably because a leak exists. Otherwise, there is no advantage whatsoever to changing the gas in the tube, because a “fresh” atom is indistinguishable from a “used” one. Both are ageless, in that they are older than the solar system.

Question 15.S&C.3: Suppose a friend suggests that, for a first-rate operation, ...

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