![]() ![]() So how does it fit into such a tiny space? It's double coiled, that's how. For example in a standard 60 watt bulb the tungsten wire is over six feet long, but at the same time, it is less than one-hundredth of an inch in diameter. The filament is also tremendously long and thin. (What about halogen bulbs? We'll get to them later). ![]() After the light bulb is switched on, the tungsten filament is heated to between an incredible 2,200 and 2,500 degrees Centigrade! As well as its own properties, to further stop it burning up the glass bulb does not contain any oxygen, but instead holds an inert gas called argon or a mixture of argon and nitrogen for all regular bulbs or krypton/xenon instead of the argon for more expensive premium models. It is made out of tungsten, which is a metal with an extremely high melting point, and it certainly needs one. This filament is central in importance to the light bulb as well as central in position. After hitting one contact the current goes up a wire to a filament, which is held on a supporting glass mount in the bulb's center, then travels across it, down another wire identical to the first, and on to the other contact. The electrical charge used to light the bulb travels through it from one contact to the other in a loop. These touch the electrical circuit in the fitting attached to your mains electricity, or any number of batteries, if we're talking flashlights. The bulb has two metal contacts at the bottom of the base where they get their power from. Light bulbs (known as incandescent) are really quite simple, and simply brilliant. We all use 'em, and we all love 'em (as long as they work) but how do they work anyway? The Power ![]()
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