Type: Device
Description: An incandescent light bulb is a type of electric light source that produces light through the heating of a filament. When electric current passes through the filament, typically made of tungsten, it heats up to a high temperature and emits light through incandescence. Incandescent bulbs are known for their warm light quality and have been widely used for general lighting purposes since their invention in the late 19th century.
Attributes:
- Basic Structure:
- Filament: A thin wire, usually made of tungsten, that emits light when heated by an electric current.
- Bulb: A glass enclosure that contains an inert gas or is vacuum-sealed to protect the filament from oxidation.
- Base: The part of the bulb that connects to the power supply, often a screw or bayonet base.
- Gas Fill: Inert gases like argon or nitrogen used to increase efficiency and lifespan by reducing filament evaporation.
- Characteristics:
- Luminous Efficacy: Lower compared to modern light sources like LEDs and fluorescent bulbs, typically around 10-17 lumens per watt.
- Lifespan: Shorter lifespan, generally around 750 to 2,000 hours.
- Color Temperature: Produces a warm light, typically around 2700K to 3000K.
- Dimmability: Easily dimmable, providing a range of light intensities without requiring special dimmer circuits.
- Efficiency:
- Energy Consumption: High energy consumption relative to light output; a significant portion of energy is emitted as heat rather than visible light.
- Heat Generation: Generates substantial heat, making it less energy-efficient and posing potential fire hazards in some settings.
Relationships:
- Applications:
- General Lighting: Historically used in homes, offices, and public buildings for ambient lighting.
- Specialty Lighting: Still used in applications where warm light and dimming capability are desired, such as in theatrical lighting, certain types of lamps, and decorative fixtures.
- Heat Lamps: Utilized in applications where both light and heat are beneficial, such as in incubators and food warmers.
- Related Technologies:
- Halogen Lamps: A type of incandescent bulb with a halogen gas fill that increases efficiency and lifespan.
- Fluorescent Lamps: More energy-efficient alternative that produces light through the excitation of phosphor by ultraviolet light.
- LED Lamps: Modern, highly efficient light sources that have largely replaced incandescent bulbs in many applications due to their lower energy consumption and longer lifespan.
