Final answer:
The neon lamp in a lighted handle toggle switch is illuminated when the switch is in the on position. Neon signs, often misunderstood as only containing neon gas, can emit various colors depending on the gas or the color of the glass used in the tube.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lighted handle toggle switches utilize a neon lamp that is illuminated when the switch is in the on position. These switches are designed to indicate visually when a circuit is active. Neon lamps are a type of gas discharge tube, which light up when an electric spark passes through neon gas at low pressure, producing a characteristic red glow. However, using different gases such as argon or mercury vapor, or colored glass tubes, can change the light's color.
Neon lights are often used in signage and art installations, known for their ability to emit bright, colorful light when electrified. The color change mechanism in neon lighting involves exciting the electrons in the gas atoms, which then emit light as they return to a lower energy state. While many signs are called "neon," the term generally refers to the type of illumination rather than the specific gas used, as many of these lights do not contain actual neon gas.