Book 1, Question 106 · Video
How Does a Light Bulb Work? Filaments vs. LEDs!
In an old-style bulb, electricity flows through a thin part called a filament, and it gets so hot that it glows. LED bulbs glow with tiny chips and give off less heat. The page say
Read the full answer →What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How does a light bulb work?
The Big Idea
Flip a switch, and a bulb glows! But how? Electricity flows through the bulb, and makes one small part glow bright. Let's see how it works, step by step!
Electricity Flows Through a Thin Part
Step one: electricity flows through a thin part. In an old-style bulb, that thin part is a tiny, coiled wire called a filament. The wire is so thin that electricity has to squeeze through.
That Part Gets So Hot It Glows
Step two: that part gets so hot, it glows. All that squeezing heats the wire to more than 2,000 degrees Celsius! It gets so hot that it shines, like a tiny piece of the Sun, and makes light.
LED Bulbs Glow With Tiny Chips
Step three: LED bulbs glow with tiny chips that use less heat. Inside are tiny chips that make light directly, when electricity flows through them. They stay cooler, so they save energy, and last for years!
Simple Comparison
Let's compare them! The old filament bulb gets very hot, and makes lots of heat. The LED bulb stays cooler, and makes much less heat. Both make light, but the LED uses way less energy to do it!
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Most of an old bulb's energy becomes heat, not light. That's why they get so hot! An LED bulb can last about twenty-five times longer. Thomas Edison's team made a long-lasting light bulb in eighteen seventy-nine. And fireflies make light with almost no heat at all!
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, find a lamp that's been on a while. Feel the lamp shade. Is it warm? Remember: NEVER touch the bulb itself. It can be very hot! Then try a lamp with an LED bulb. Which shade feels cooler? A warm shade means lots of energy became heat!
Outro
A light bulb glows when electricity flows through a thin part that gets super hot, or through tiny LED chips. Keep shining bright! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!