Glow in the dark toys are an example of which phenomenon?

Glow in the dark toys typically exhibit phosphorescence, which is the phenomenon where certain materials absorb energy from light and then re-emit that energy slowly over time, allowing them to glow in the dark after the light source is removed.

In the case of phosphorescent materials, they store energy and release it gradually, producing a glow that can last from a few minutes to several hours. This process differs from fluorescence, where materials glow only while exposed to a light source and stop glowing immediately once the light is removed.

Bioluminescence refers to the natural light produced by living organisms, such as fireflies or certain types of fungi, which is not relevant to toys. Radioluminescence involves the emission of light due to radioactive decay, which is also not applicable to standard glow in the dark toys. Thus, phosphorescence is the correct categorization for these toys because they store light energy and release it slowly, resulting in their characteristic glowing effect in the dark.