How Light Bulbs Work

Before light bulbs, people used candles and oil lamps. Light bulbs changed the world by turning electricity into light. There are different types of light bulbs. Older incandescent bulbs use a hot wire. Modern LED bulbs use tiny electronic chips. Both types light up our homes and streets.

Incandescent Bulbs

In an incandescent bulb, electricity flows through a thin wire called a filament. The filament resists the flow of electricity, which makes it heat up to about 4,500 degrees Fahrenheit. At that temperature, it glows white-hot and produces light. Most of the energy becomes heat, which is why these bulbs get very hot.

LED Bulbs

LED stands for light-emitting diode. LEDs produce light when electricity passes through a special material called a semiconductor. LEDs are much more efficient than incandescent bulbs. They use about 75 percent less energy and last 25 times longer. They also stay cool because they waste less energy as heat.

Fun Facts

• Thomas Edison tested over 3,000 materials before finding the right filament for his light bulb.
• The world's longest-lasting light bulb has been burning in a fire station in California since 1901.
• LED bulbs can last up to 50,000 hours, which is over five years of continuous use.

Did You Know?

Thomas Edison did not actually invent the light bulb. Other inventors had created earlier versions. Edison made the first practical light bulb that lasted long enough and was cheap enough for everyday use!