What are Light Bulbs?

The light bulb is one of the greatest inventions and we use them regularly. It is a device that is used to convert electricity to light. It consists of a source of illumination surrounded by a transparent or translucent shell. It usually has a rounded shape and is designed to be fitted into a socket in a lamp. It is interesting to know that the first light bulb was made in the 1980s. Thomas Edison later invented the commercial light bulb and ever since it is being used almost everywhere.

What do Light Bulbs do?

The primary function of a light bulb was to light up dark spaces, but they have gained many uses over the years. They are used at home, in offices, and on the streets. They are used in traffic lights; as indicators to show an electric device is on, in advertisements, in sports, in vehicles

How do Light Bulbs give light?

There are two ways to produce visible light.

By Thermal Radiation - The first method is by using thermal radiation in which an object is heated to a sufficiently high temperature so that it gives off visible light. This is called incandescence and bulbs using this method are called incandescent light bulbs. In these bulbs, a tungsten filament is heated by an electric current which gives off electromagnetic radiation (visible light).

The other method to produce light is luminescence. In this method, light is produced without heating any object but through the absorption of energy by appropriate materials.

Can you replace any Light Bulbs with an LED?

If the voltage and current are suitable, then Light bulbs can be replaced with LED.

Moreover, incandescent bulbs should be replaced with LED Bulbs as LED bulbs are more energy efficient, have longer operational life, are safe and easy to use, are more colourful and have versatile uses.

What Should Be Considered When Choosing Light Bulbs?

Knowing how to choose a light bulb is very important. This decision depends on the area to be illuminated and the light fixture. When choosing a bulb a few things should be in mind.

1. Bulb shape and base
1. Shape: A bulb comes in different shapes. They are arbitrary, reflector, candle, spot, stick, spiral and globe.
2. Base: There are two types of bases, pin type and screw type.
2. Bulb type: Depending on the different features of the bulbs, one should decide which bulb to use; Halogen, Incandescent, Compact Fluorescent light (CFL), Light Emitting Diode (LED).
3. Brightness: The Lumens mentioned on the bulb indicated the amount of light it will emit and the wattage specifies the power consumed to produce that light. More Lumens suggest more brightness. For incandescent light bulbs, more wattage suggests more brightness.
4. Colour: One should choose the type of bulb depending on the colour required to illuminate the area -cool white or warm white
5. Aesthetics: Consider the bulb shape and glass colour of the bulb when it is lit.

Are Light Bulbs Costly?

The initial cost of an incandescent light bulb is less than LED bulbs, but considering the energy consumption cost, LEDs tend to be more cost-effective in the long run.

Do Light Bulbs Save Energy?

The old filament bulbs/ incandescent bulbs use a lot of energy and since Energy Efficiency is very important in our lives, we look for alternatives to incandescent bulbs. In incandescent bulbs, little energy is converted to light and the rest is wasted as heat. The alternative to this are energy-saving bulbs- Halogen bulbs, CFLs and LEDs.

What are the Types of Light Bulbs?

There are four main types of light bulbs for home lighting:

1. Incandescent
2. Halogen
3. Compact fluorescent lights CFLs
4. Light emitting Diodes LEDs

What are Light Bulbs Colours?

Incandescent light bulbs have traditionally given off a warm- yellow-coloured light but nowadays they are available in three primary types- Soft White, Bright White and Daylight.